Posted: | December 6, 2022 01:04 PM |
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From: | Senator Doug Mastriano |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Statute of Limitations for Elder/Care Dependent Abuse |
Soon, I will be introducing legislation to remove the statute of limitations for crimes committed against a nonverbal care-dependent person. Care-dependent individuals do not always have the cognitive or verbal ability to communicate crimes committed against them such as rape, sexual assault, simple assault, aggravated assault, and abuse or neglect. In many cases, these crimes are discovered by family members after the statute of limitations has already run out. In this legislation, a nonverbal care dependent person is defined as an individual who is 18 years of age or older who, due to a physical or cognitive disability or impairment, requires assistance to meet their needs for food, shelter, clothing, personal care or health care; and has significantly sub-average general intellectual function accompanied by limitations in communication. My bill will amend Title 42 to add serious crimes committed against a nonverbal care-dependent person to the other existing seven offenses in which a prosecution can be commenced at any time. Please consider joining me as a co-sponsor so we can ensure that care dependent individuals receive the justice they deserve and those who prey on them are held accountable. If you have any questions regarding this bill, please contact Joshua Herman in my office at jherman@pasen.gov |
Introduced as SB261