To: DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, DC Councilmember
Councilmember Tommy Wells- Mark up Bill 20-107 to Criminalize Elder Financial Exploitation by Use...
The National Center on Elder Abuse has declared elder abuse, including elder financial abuse/exploitation, an under-recognized problem with devastating and even life-threatening consequences, and encourages dynamic involvement from not only the aging services and affiliated networks, but also from the public at large to recognize elder abuse and take action in preventing it.
Why is this important?
Elder financial abuse/exploitation is becoming the crime of the 21st century as the growing senior population is increasingly targeted. Elder financial abuse/exploitation by use of "undue influence" must be criminalized in the District of Columbia. DC Councilmember Marion Barry introduced Bill 20-107, "Charles and Hilda Mason Elder Abuse Clarification and Expansion Act of 2013." The Bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee chaired by DC Councilmember Tommy Wells in February 2013. Councilmember Wells is letting Bill 20-107 die in the Judiciary Committee instead of marking it up to criminalize elder financial exploitation by use of "undue influence," as 14 other states do, and reporting the Bill mark-up out of the Judiciary Committee to the Committee of the Whole for an up or down vote before the CY '2014 legislative year ends on 12/23/14.
"It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
Hubert H. Humphrey
"It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
Hubert H. Humphrey