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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the vulnerable adult protection |
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task force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Task force" means the vulnerable adult protection |
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task force established by this Act. |
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(2) "Vulnerable adult" means: |
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(A) an elderly person as that term is defined by |
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Section 48.002, Human Resources Code; or |
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(B) a person with a disability as that term is |
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defined by Section 48.002, Human Resources Code. |
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(b) The vulnerable adult protection task force is |
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established to study abuse of vulnerable adults in this state. |
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(c) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission or the commissioner's designee; |
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(2) the executive commissioner of the Department of |
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State Health Services or the executive commissioner's designee; |
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(3) the banking commissioner of the Texas Department |
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of Banking or the banking commissioner's designee; |
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(4) the commissioner of insurance of the Texas |
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Department of Insurance or the commissioner of insurance's |
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designee; |
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(5) a district attorney selected by the Texas District |
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and County Attorneys Association; |
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(6) a representative from the Department of Public |
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Safety; |
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(7) a representative from the banking industry; |
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(8) a representative from the credit union industry; |
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(9) a representative of an unaffiliated nonprofit |
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organization that advocates for elderly persons statewide; and |
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(10) a representative of the health care industry. |
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(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force or reimbursement for expenses incurred in |
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performing task force duties. |
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(e) The task force shall: |
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(1) assess the status of vulnerable adults in this |
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state; |
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(2) examine existing services and resources |
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addressing the needs of vulnerable adults in this state and any |
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barriers impeding those services and resources; |
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(3) determine the economic and human impact of |
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financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in this state; |
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(4) review possible solutions that could reduce the |
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incidents of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in this |
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state; and |
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(5) develop recommendations to address abuse of |
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vulnerable adults in this state, including: |
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(A) possible legislation; and |
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(B) other state policies or responses. |
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(f) A state agency shall cooperate with and assist the task |
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force in carrying out the duties of the task force. |
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(g) Not later than January 1, 2025, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the speaker of the house of representatives a |
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written report that summarizes the task force's findings under this |
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section and recommends solutions for improving the well-being of |
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vulnerable adults in this state. |
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(h) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1, |
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2025. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |