Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5352
Sponsor: Rep. Sestak, Joe [D-PA-7]
Introduced: 2008-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Block grants
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crimes against the elderly
Criminal investigation
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to law enforcement
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Prosecution
Social Welfare
State laws
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: 
Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) study and report to Congress on state laws and practices relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (2) develop and implement policies and a long-term plan for elder justice programs and related activities.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award victim advocacy grants for study of the special needs of victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including related pilot programs.
 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) award grants to support local and state prosecutors and general law enforcement in elder justice matters; and (2) establish procedures to ensure that the Department of Justice dedicates resources to investigating and prosecuting elder justice cases.
 
Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to add a new part B (Elder Justice) establishing an Elder Justice Coordinating Council and the Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.

action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) study and report to Congress on state laws and practices relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (2) develop objectives, priorities, policies, and a long-term plan for elder justice programs and activities. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress any recommendations with respect to any federal legislation, regulations, or programs determined necessary to improve elder justice in the United States.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Attorney General to award victim advocacy grants for study of the special needs of victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including related pilot programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to award grants to provide training, technical assistance, policy development, multidisciplinary coordination, and other types of support to local prosecutors and courts handling elder justice-related cases, funding in particular: (1) specially designated elder justice positions or units; and (2) the creation of a Center for the Prosecution of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation by the American Prosecutor Research Institute of the National District Attorneys Association, or any other similarly situated entity.
 
 Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to award similar grants to provide support to state prosecutors and courts, employees of state Attorneys General, and Medicaid Fraud Control Units handling elder justice-related matters.
 
Authorizes use of such grants to: (1) establish specially designated elder justice positions or units; and (2) create a position to coordinate elder justice-related cases, training, technical assistance, and policy development for state prosecutors and courts by the National Association of Attorneys General or any other similarly situated entity.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Attorney General to award similar grants to provide support to police, sheriffs, detectives, public safety officers, corrections personnel, and other first responders who handle elder justice-related matters to fund specially designated elder justice positions or units designed to support first responders in elder justice matters.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) require each recipient to use a portion of grant funds to conduct a validated evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out through the grant; or (2) use a portion of funds under this Act to assist an eligible entity to conduct such an evaluation.
 
Prescribes general requirements for grant applications and their review and selection.
 

 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 8) Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to add a new part B (Elder Justice) establishing an Elder Justice Coordinating Council and the Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.
 
(Sec. 9) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to reauthorize for FY2009-FY2015, and revise requirements for, the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program, extending its authorization to locally based, proactive programs to protect and locate missing patients with related dementias (as well as those with Alzheimer's disease) and other missing elderly individuals.

action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008 - 
Title I: Elder Abuse Victims
 - (Sec. 101) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) study and report to Congress on state laws and practices relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (2) develop objectives, priorities, policies, and a long-term plan for elder justice programs and activities. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress any recommendations with respect to any federal legislation, regulations, or programs determined necessary to improve elder justice in the United States.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 102) Authorizes the Attorney General to award victim advocacy grants for study of the special needs of victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including related pilot programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to award grants to eligible entities to provide training, technical assistance, policy development, multidisciplinary coordination, and other types of support to local prosecutors and courts handling elder justice-related cases, funding in particular: (1) specially designated elder justice positions or units in local prosecutors' offices and local courts; and (2) the creation of a Center for the Prosecution of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation to advise and support local prosecutors and courts nationwide in the pursuit of such cases.
 
 Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 104) Directs the Attorney General to award similar grants to eligible entities to provide support to state prosecutors and courts, employees of state Attorneys General, and Medicaid Fraud Control Units handling elder justice-related matters.
 
Authorizes use of such grants to: (1) establish specially designated elder justice positions or units in state prosecutors' offices and state courts; and (2) create a position to coordinate elder justice-related cases, training, technical assistance, and policy development for state prosecutors and courts.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 105) Directs the Attorney General to award similar grants to eligible entities to provide support to police, sheriffs, detectives, public safety officers, corrections personnel, and other first responders who handle elder justice-related matters to fund specially designated elder justice positions or units designed to support first responders in elder justice matters.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 106) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) require each recipient to use a portion of grant funds to conduct a validated evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out through the grant; or (2) use a portion of funds under this title to assist an eligible entity to conduct such an evaluation.
 
Prescribes general requirements for grant applications and their review and selection.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2015.
 
(Sec. 107) Defines eligible entity as a state or local government agency, Indian tribe or tribal organization, or any other public or nonprofit private entity that is engaged in and has expertise in issues relating to elder justice or a field necessary to promote elder justice efforts.
 

Title II: Elder Serve Victim Grant Programs
 - (Sec. 201) Directs the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, to carry out a three-year Elder Serve Victim program to provide grants to eligible entities (crime victim assistance programs receiving grants under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984) to establish programs to facilitate and coordinate programs for victims of elder abuse.
 
Requires a recipient to use its grant to establish an Emergency Crisis Response Team program, which shall: (1) include immediate, short-term emergency services, including shelter, care services, food, clothing, transportation to medical or legal appointments; and (2) provide other appropriate services to victims of elder abuse.
 
Limits short-term housing for such victims to 30 days.
 
Requires a grant recipient also to establish counseling, mental health screening, emergency legal advocacy, job placement assistance, bereavement counseling, and other appropriate service programs.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 387 - 28 (Roll no. 626). (text: CR H 9/22/2008 H8658)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 387 - 28 (Roll no. 626).(text: CR H 9/22/2008 H8658)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8658)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5352.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8519-8522)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Ms. Sutton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 561.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-864, Part I.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-864, Part I.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-02-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support.
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Introduced in House