Lawmakers Introduce Bills To Crack Down on Elder Abuse

California lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at improving elder abuse reporting and making it easier to obtain convictions. Assembly member Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) introduced a bill (AB 40) that would require mandated reporters -- such as nursing employees and social, health and law enforcement employees -- to inform both an ombudsman and local law enforcement of suspected elder abuse. Currently, mandated reporters only are required to report cases to one of the two agencies. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) introduced a bill (SB 558) that would lower the burden of proof in elder abuse cases from "clear and convincing evidence" to a "preponderance of evidence."

• "Lawmakers Push for Elder Abuse Reforms" (de Brito, California Watch, 3/11).