The proposed bill aims to enhance the enforcement of elder abuse laws by establishing an Elder Justice Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) and an Elder Abuse Task Force within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). The Elder Justice Unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of crimes against elderly individuals, while the Elder Abuse Task Force will investigate suspected elder abuse statewide and coordinate with the unit. The task force will have the authority to collaborate with various agencies and enter into agreements with other states to effectively address elder abuse. The bill also includes provisions for the appointment of a commanding officer and necessary personnel for the task force by the DESPP commissioner.

In addition to creating these new units, the bill amends existing statutes to ensure the inclusion of the Elder Justice Unit within the DCJ, overseen by the Chief State's Attorney. The bill also updates legal language to replace gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral terms, promoting inclusivity in references to the Chief State's Attorney. The implementation of these units is projected to incur significant costs, estimated between $934,975 and $1,209,482 in FY 26 and $1,194,967 to $1,550,976 in FY 27, primarily funded through the General Fund. The provisions of the bill are set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 51-279b
AGE Joint Favorable: 51-279b
File No. 200: 51-279b