PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 564, PRINTER'S NO. 2891
No. 501 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, GRUPPO, BELARDI, MAYERNIK, JAMES,
E. Z. TAYLOR, BELFANTI, PISTELLA, TRAVAGLIO, JOSEPHS,
HERSHEY, CURRY, TRELLO, STEELMAN, ALLEN, SEMMEL, BROWNE,
RAMOS, PETTIT, WILT, STURLA, BAKER, DeLUCA, FICHTER,
SCRIMENTI, CAWLEY, GEORGE, STEVENSON, MILLER, READSHAW,
GEIST, HENNESSEY, SCHRODER, RUBLEY, JADLOWIEC, HUTCHINSON,
SAINATO, ROSS, SEYFERT, MASLAND, ROBERTS, FARGO, VAN HORNE,
A. H. WILLIAMS, C. WILLIAMS, NAILOR AND MCILHATTAN,
FEBRUARY 12, 1997
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON AGING AND YOUTH, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 1998
AN ACT
1 Creating the Committee for the Coordination of Police Services <--
2 to Elderly Persons STATEWIDE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF <--
3 SENIOR CITIZENS; and providing for powers and duties of the
4 committee.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Coordination <--
9 of Police Services to Elderly Persons Act. STATEWIDE COMMITTEE <--
10 FOR THE PROTECTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS ACT.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Committee." The Committee for the Coordination of Police <--
1 Services to Elderly Persons "COMMITTEE." THE STATEWIDE <--
2 COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS established
3 under section 3.
4 "Office." The Office of Attorney General of the
5 Commonwealth.
6 "Triad program." The triad cooperative model developed by
7 the American Association of Retired Persons, the National
8 Sheriffs' Association and the International Association of
9 Chiefs of Police which calls for the participation of the
10 sheriff, at least one police chief and a representative of at
11 least one senior citizens' organization within a county and may
12 include participation by general service coalitions of law
13 enforcement, victim service and senior citizen advocate
14 organizations. If there is not both a sheriff and a police chief
15 in a county or if the sheriff or a police chief does not
16 participate, a triad may include in the place of the sheriff or
17 police chief another key law enforcement official in the county
18 such as a district attorney.
19 Section 3. Establishment of committee.
20 There is hereby established within the Office of Attorney
21 General of the Commonwealth the Committee for the Coordination <--
22 of Police Services to Elderly Persons STATEWIDE COMMITTEE FOR <--
23 THE PROTECTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS.
24 Section 4. Membership and operation of committee.
25 (a) Members.--The committee shall consist of ten members, as
26 follows:
27 (1) The Attorney General of the Commonwealth, who shall
28 serve as presiding officer of the committee.
29 (2) The Secretary of Aging.
30 (3) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
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1 (4) The presiding officer of the Crime Victim's
2 Compensation Board.
3 (5) Two county sheriffs, to be appointed by the
4 Governor.
5 (6) Two municipal police chiefs, to be appointed by the
6 Governor.
7 (7) Two citizens at large both of whom shall be 65 years
8 of age or older, to be appointed by the Governor.
9 (b) Method of appointment.--Appointments by the Governor <--
10 shall be made from nominations submitted by relevant
11 organizations.
12 (B) DESIGNEES.--EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS APPOINTED UNDER <--
13 SUBSECTION (A)(7), ANY MEMBER MAY BE REPRESENTED BY A DESIGNEE.
14 (c) Term.--Members of the committee appointed by the
15 Governor shall serve for a term of three years. A member may be
16 reappointed for additional terms.
17 (d) Cessation of participation.--A member of the committee
18 shall, immediately upon removal or retirement from the position
19 by virtue of which the member was eligible for appointment,
20 cease to be a member of the committee.
21 (e) Vacancies.--A member appointed to fill a vacancy created
22 other than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for the
23 unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed in the same
24 manner as the original appointment.
25 (f) Reimbursement.--Members of the committee shall serve
26 without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and
27 actual expenses incurred in attending meetings of the committee
28 and in the performance of their duties under this act.
29 (g) Removal.--Members of the committee may be removed by the
30 Governor for cause after written notice from the Governor.
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1 (h) Meetings.--The committee shall meet as often as its <--
2 members deem THE PRESIDING OFFICER DEEMS necessary, but not less <--
3 than twice per year.
4 Section 5. Powers and duties of committee.
5 The committee shall advise the Office of Attorney General, <--
6 the Department of Aging, the Pennsylvania State Police, county
7 sheriffs and other local law enforcement agencies, senior
8 advocates and other relevant parties chosen in consultation with
9 the office PARTICIPATE in the study and evaluation of triad <--
10 programs as an effective response to the problems of crime
11 against elderly persons. The committee may also consult with
12 experts, service providers and representative organizations
13 engaged in the protection of the elderly and may recommend the
14 development of triad programs in this Commonwealth to assist the
15 elderly to avoid criminal victimization through coordinated
16 efforts of State and local law enforcement agencies and
17 organizations which provide services for the elderly. The
18 committee may also recommend policies and programs to assist law
19 enforcement agencies in implementing triad programs, including
20 training and prevention standards and technical assistance. The
21 powers and duties of the committee shall include the following:
22 (1) Establishment of a Statewide and central
23 clearinghouse for information and education materials. <--
24 (2) Development of innovative community police programs
25 for the elderly.
26 (3) Providing assistance to the Municipal Police
27 Officers' Education and Training Commission in the
28 development and delivery of training to law enforcement
29 professionals involved in the triad programs, including, but <--
30 not limited to, the subjects of:
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1 (i) crimes against the elderly and the protection of
2 elderly persons;
3 (ii) police sensitivity to the needs of elderly
4 persons as victims and witnesses; and
5 (iii) AVAILABLE social and human services RELATING <--
6 TO CRIMES AGAINST ELDERLY PERSONS.
7 (4) Providing assistance to State and local law
8 enforcement officials and to not-for-profit corporations and
9 organizations with respect to effective policies for and
10 responses to crimes against elderly persons.
11 (5) Promoting and facilitating cooperation among State
12 agencies and local units of government.
13 (6) Effective advocacy of services to protect ADVOCACY <--
14 OF SERVICES PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE PROTECTION OF
15 elderly persons and elderly victims of crime.
16 (7) Evaluating the relationship between crimes against
17 elderly persons and other problems confronting elderly
18 persons, and making recommendations for effective policy
19 response.
20 (8) Collection of statistical data and research.
21 (9) Promulgation of rules and regulations as may be <--
22 SECTION 6. REGULATIONS. <--
23 THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND
24 REGULATIONS necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
25 Section 6 7. Effective date. <--
26 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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