Bill addressing elderly and vulnerable adult abuse heads to House

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure to better address elderly and vulnerable adult abuse in Oklahoma passed the Senate Tuesday. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, is the author of Senate Bill 1163, which will authorize district attorneys to develop a multidisciplinary team to investigate and prosecute such crimes in coordination with the District Attorneys Council.

“Our state has seen dramatic improvements since the creation of the multidisciplinary child abuse teams in the number of reported and prosecuted child abuse cases, so we want to do the same thing for our elderly and vulnerable adults,” Garvin said. “By collaborating with other entities already investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes, we can eliminate duplicative efforts, identify gaps in service, and standardize investigative practices.  This will ensure these Oklahomans are better protected from predators and that abusers will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

Each team would include a mental health professional, law enforcement agents experienced with or trained in elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect investigations, medical personnel with relevant experience, coordinators, the district attorney, as well as Adult Protective Services, the Office of Client Advocacy, and long-term care workers within the Department of Human Services (DHS). The teams would conduct joint investigations, develop a written protocol for such investigations and collaborate with professionals responsible for the reporting and investigation of such abuse.

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, is the House principal author of SB 1163 that now goes to the opposite chamber for further consideration.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Garvin: (405) 521-5522 or Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov