Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring the mandatory reporting of suspected elder abuse.

Res. No. 106

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring the mandatory reporting of suspected elder abuse.

By Council Members Chin, Cohen, Constantinides, Ferreras-Copeland, Gibson, Koo, Levine, Palma, Rose, Mendez, Koslowitz, Vallone and Menchaca.

                     Whereas, Elder abuse, the intentional harming or creation of a serious risk of harm to a senior, includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect; and

                     Whereas, In 2011, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services released a report estimating that 120,000 seniors in New York City had experienced abuse; and

                     Whereas, Investigating and resolving elder abuse cases can be particularly difficult as victims are hesitant to report abuse, in part due to the fact that perpetrators of elder abuse are often family members or caregivers; and

                     Whereas, According to the New York State Bureau of Adult Services, more than 85 percent of reported perpetrators of physical abuse of a senior were family members, with spouses or significant others comprising nearly a third of abusers; and                      

                     Whereas, According to the United States Government Accountability Office, as of 2011, New York was one of only four states that did not require any professionals to report suspected cases of elder abuse; and

                     Whereas, The State should require that health care workers, social services workers, mental health professionals, employees or volunteers of facilities providing care for seniors, law enforcement officials, attorneys and investigators of district attorney’s offices, and financial professionals who, while acting in their professional or official capacity, have reasonable cause to suspect that a senior is abused to report such abuse to the State; and

Whereas, Requiring that certain professionals report suspected elder abuse would increase the likelihood that a victim of abuse will receive needed services and that abusers will be brought to justice; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring the mandatory reporting of suspected elder abuse.

KET 3/5/14 11:01AM

LS 841/2014