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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study to evaluate the effectiveness of community |
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collaboratives in addressing the exploitation of elderly persons in |
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this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Community collaborative" means a model under |
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which entities with an interest in preventing exploitation of |
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elderly persons collaborate to help prevent, protect against, and |
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prosecute that exploitation. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services. |
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(3) "Elderly person" and "exploitation" have the |
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meanings assigned by Section 48.002, Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY ON COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES TO ADDRESS |
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EXPLOITATION OF ELDERLY PERSONS. (a) Using existing resources, |
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the department shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of |
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community collaboratives, including multidisciplinary teams, in |
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addressing the exploitation of elderly persons. The study must: |
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(1) identify and evaluate national and state community |
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collaborative models, including existing models in this state and |
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in other states; |
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(2) collect outcome data available with respect to the |
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various models, including: |
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(A) the number of prosecutions commenced; |
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(B) the amount of restitution obtained; and |
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(C) the efficacy of prevention efforts; |
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(3) identify key models and determine the primary |
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types of participating entities and services provided under those |
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models; |
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(4) assess the role of the governmental provider of |
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adult protective services within the various models and how that |
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role contributes to outcomes; |
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(5) analyze which models have a prosecuting attorney |
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that has an independent unit committed to investigating and |
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prosecuting financial exploitation; |
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(6) analyze how different geographical areas of this |
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state that represent diverse communities with different resources |
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and services use different models; |
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(7) determine key components of models that are |
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effective in preventing, protecting against, and prosecuting the |
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exploitation of elderly persons; and |
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(8) examine costs associated with effective models. |
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(b) In conducting the study required by this section, the |
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department: |
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(1) shall consult with the Elder Financial Safety |
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Center or another entity familiar with designing and maintaining |
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similar community collaboratives; and |
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(2) may consult with: |
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(A) a local court with jurisdiction over |
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guardianship proceedings; or |
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(B) the office of a prosecuting attorney that has |
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an independent unit committed to investigating and prosecuting |
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exploitation. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2022, |
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the department shall prepare and submit a written report to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and members of the standing committees of the |
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senate and the house of representatives with jurisdiction over the |
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department. The department may submit the report in an electronic |
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format. |
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(b) The report under this section must include: |
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(1) a summary of the results of the study conducted |
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under Section 2 of this Act; and |
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(2) recommendations based on the results of that |
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study. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |