Posted: | December 1, 2022 11:48 AM |
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From: | Senator Chris Gebhard |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA) |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation that has been championed by Senator Mensch over the years that would update and overhaul the Older Adults Protective Services Act. I am happy today that I have been given Senator Mensch’s blessing to carry the torch on this issue moving forward. The Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA) has been effective as a means of detecting and reducing elder abuse in the Commonwealth, as well as a blueprint for establishing protective services for Pennsylvanians 60 years of age and older. Perhaps the most pressing need for this legislation is to correct a constitutionality issue created by a state Supreme Court decision in 2015. The decision held that it is unconstitutional for the offenses listed in OAPSA to result in a lifetime employment ban for workers in elder care facilities without further evaluation. In addition to this fix, this legislation will improve the delivery of resources and streamline the services provided to older adults by:
The last time this legislation was introduced was in 2019 as SB 819 and was co-sponsored by Gordner, Yaw, Baker, K. Ward, Vogel, J. Ward, Schwank, Tartaglione, Fontana, Brewster, Boscola, Haywood and Muth. The bill unanimously passed the Senate but was never considered in the House of Representatives. The further away we get from the 2015 Supreme Court ruling, the more issues arise for our seniors and our providers. I ask that you join with me in support of this initiative. |