In the waning days of the 2016 Indiana General Assembly, there is hopeful progress for the protection of at-risk adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation, a growing problem for Indiana. SB 192 which requires legislative study of adult protection concerns has passed both chambers and could be on its way shortly to Governor Pence for signature. The study, due this December, will provide information on which to make decisions about increasing the adult protective services budget during the biennial state budgeting process in 2017. In the meantime, legislative leaders and the governor have agreed to provide additional dollars this year as a stop-gap measure to fund 18 additional investigators, one for each of the state’s 18 adult protective service regions.
Other parts of the bill require separate study of visitation and communication requirements applicable to guardians of protected persons.
Two additional bills have passed both chambers but require further consideration. SB 221 offers additional protections to adults 65 years of age or older, and to incapable adults 18 years or older, in the conduct of certain securities and financial transactions. SB 350 would require that all home health workers be subject to national criminal background checks.
