Elder Justice Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-795
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2009-04-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Allied health services
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Health and Human Services
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Nursing
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-02
text: 
 Elder Justice Act of 2009 - Amends the Social Security Act to establish an Elder Justice program under title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services).
 
Establishes within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC).
 
Establishes the Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.
 
Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to establish stationary and mobile forensic centers, to develop forensic expertise regarding, and provide services relating to, elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide incentives for individuals to train for, seek, and maintain employment providing direct care in a long-term care (LTC) facility.
 
Directs the Secretary to make grants to LTC facilities to: (1) offer continuing training and varying levels of certification to employees who provide direct care to LTC facility residents; and (2) provide bonuses or other benefits to employees who achieve certification.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to assist LTC facilities in offsetting the costs for standardized clinical health care informatics systems designed to improve patient safety and reduce adverse events and health care complications resulting from medication errors.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure that HHS: (1) provides funding to state and local adult protective services services offices that investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and (2) collects and disseminates related data in coordination with the Department of Justice.
 
Establishes a program of annual adult protective services grants to states.
 
Directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to: (1) improve the capacity of state LTC ombudsman programs to respond to and resolve abuse and neglect complaints; and (2) conduct pilot programs with state or local LTC ombudsman offices.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish programs to provide and improve ombudsman training for national organizations and state LTC ombudsman programs.
 
Amends part A of SSA title XI to require each individual owner, operator, employee, manager, agent, or contractor of an LTC facility receiving certain federal support to report to the Secretary and local law enforcement entities any reasonable suspicion of crimes occurring in such facility.
 
Requires the owner or operator of such an LTC facility to notify the Secretary and the appropriate state regulatory agency of a facility's impending closure, as well as a plan for the transfer and adequate relocation of facility residents.
 
Directs the Secretary to study and report to the EJCC and appropriate congressional committees on establishing a national nurse aide registry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4331)
action_date: 2009-04-02
text: Introduced in Senate