1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Robert Matava Exploitation
Protection for Elder Adults Act of 2012
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—Federal prosecution of abuse and exploitation directed at
elders
Sec. 101. Enhanced penalty for telemarketing and
email-marketing fraud directed at elders.
Sec. 102. Data collection.
TITLE II—Coordination of civil protections and criminal
prosecution as it relates to elder justice
Sec. 201. Model States laws and practices.
Sec. 202. Civil protection and criminal
prosecution.
TITLE III—Interstate initiatives
Sec. 301. Interstate agreements and compacts.
Sec. 302. Recommendations on interstate
communication.
TITLE IV—GAO report
Sec. 401. GAO report to assess cost of elder abuse on Federal
programs.
2.
(a)In this Act—
(1)the terms abuse,
elder, elder justice, exploitation, and
neglect have the meanings given those terms in section 2011 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397j);
(2)the term
adult protective services—
(A)means such
services provided to adults as specified in Federal, State, or local law
pertaining to adult protective services; and
(B)includes services
such as—
(i)receiving reports
of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
(ii)investigating
the reports described in clause (i);
(iii)case planning,
monitoring, evaluation, and other case work and services; and
(iv)providing,
arranging for, or facilitating the provision of medical, social service,
economic, legal, housing, law enforcement, or other protective emergency, or
support services;
(3)the term
caregiver—
(A)means an
individual who has the responsibility for the care of an elder either
voluntarily, by contract, by receipt of payment for care, or as a result of the
operation of law; and
(B)shall include a
family member or other individual who provides (on behalf of such individual or
of a public or private agency, organization, or institution) compensated or
uncompensated care to an elder who needs supportive services in any
setting;
(4)the term
elder abuse includes neglect and exploitation;
(5)the term
fiduciary—
(A)means an
individual or entity with the legal responsibility—
(i)to
make decisions on behalf of and for the benefit of another individual;
and
(ii)to
act in good faith and with fairness; and
(B)shall
include—
(i)a
trustee;
(ii)a
guardian;
(iii)a
conservator;
(iv)an
executor;
(v)an
agent under a financial power of attorney or health care power of attorney;
or
(vi)a
representative payee; and
(6)the term
State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam,
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands.
<enum>I</enum><header>Federal
prosecution of abuse and exploitation directed at elders</header>
<section id="id29A6F74B18E348FEACBF3BCC9F67AC0F"><enum>101.</enum><header>Enhanced
penalty for telemarketing and email-marketing fraud directed at elders</header>
<subsection id="id9FD392D7D36548A0AF89914278AC394C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 113A of title
18, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id2EF84AFF99F64D348C3249C5FF25B6E4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the chapter heading by inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">and email
marketing</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">Telemarketing</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBFE55F1222AB412D8EE3FD7469AC4285"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking section 2325 and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84334A32291E4384A5E483B8E46719F1" style="OLC">
<section id="id7023B71DEB9140738C0422B204032642"><enum>2325.</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter, the term
<term>telemarketing or email marketing</term>—</text>
<paragraph id="id91560DD4819A4326A857DF686DCBE433"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">means a plan, program, promotion, or
campaign that is conducted to induce—</text>
<subparagraph id="idf1b419de4bed49d1869fec86e926ec9d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>purchases of
goods or services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62eb2b55da0741ba83e52a16916f5042"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participation in
a contest or sweepstakes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide99bca336aab4979804f7f8c0b71d716"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a charitable
contribution, donation, or gift of money or any other thing of value;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28B23897377D4BE99A43CF0B8DB38391"><enum>(D)</enum><text>investment for
financial profit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac0ccd5838f6414f87a1c7bae29f3917"><enum>(E)</enum><text>participation in
a business opportunity;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2040E10CEBD94B89A81754B83739160D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>commitment to a
loan; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida1988417c65a4e57b3513ecbba4939c8"><enum>(G)</enum><text>participation in
a fraudulent medical study, research study, or pilot study,</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">by use of
1 or more interstate telephone calls, emails, text messages, or electronic
instant messages initiated either by a person who is conducting the plan,
program, promotion, or campaign or by a prospective purchaser or contest or
sweepstakes participant or charitable contributor, donor, or investor;
and</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb491ba29bec7429eac2176ed1662e8cd"><enum>(2)</enum><text>does not include
the solicitation of sales through the posting, publication, or mailing of a
catalog that—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7188b845c6884a969dc3f8853367ed7a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>contains a
written description or illustration of the goods or services offered for
sale;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb84deb9e8bcc43678e87a4002bf4b3db"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes the
business address of the seller;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ac8eb8af2634578947f396c9b5307a5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>includes multiple
pages of written material or illustration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5A0BB782C01B405AA68C973A24AC1AFA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has been issued
not less frequently than once a year,</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">if the
person making the solicitation does not solicit customers by telephone, email,
text message, or electronic instant message, but only receives interstate
telephone calls, emails, text messages, or electronic instant messages
initiated by customers in response to the catalog and in response to those
interstate telephone calls, emails, text messages, or electronic instant
messages does not conduct further
solicitation;</continuation-text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFA791301ED0C49D8A5CDF32910D9DFFB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 2326,
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idD1FAF305C2254BB39C2408F73C843088"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>or 1344</quote> and inserting <quote>1344, or 1347 or section 1128B of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b)</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1D3C2124D7A342E29D28BD7D78F6B55D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>or email marketing</quote> after <quote>telemarketing</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id118D90C6EF1F4FFF84572A29E285EA4B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and
conforming amendment</header><text>The table of chapters at the beginning of
part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to chapter 113A and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8DF95EFC3CCB4CC7972CCADF659F3ECF" style="OLC">
<toc>
<multi-column-toc-entry bold="off" level="section"><toc-enum>113A.</toc-enum><level-header level="section">Telemarketing and email marketing
fraud</level-header><target>2325</target></multi-column-toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id22D20EDD6C4E48EBB682A8A8FB758732"><enum>102.</enum><header>Data
collection</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Attorney
General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
shall, on an annual basis—</text>
<paragraph id="idFA2EECF0F7EE4B21A10B902AF1A6A09C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>collect from
Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutor offices
statistical data relating to the incidence of elder abuse, including data
relating to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6D318BB295024CC48D7C380DDF455CA3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of
elder abuse cases referred to law enforcement agencies, adult protective
services, or any other State entity tasked with addressing elder abuse;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCBABAFB3077E463FB56AFFE9571B9709"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number and
types of cases filed in Federal, State, and local courts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id93DDA9BB55074EBE88932876C4087F3B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the outcomes of
the cases described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) and the reasons for such
outcomes;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1EE416360B4D498A9359C7F4959DB19C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify common
data points among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and
prosecutor offices that would allow for the collection of uniform national
data;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDC85C6A0A67B4CFEA66ABBC09C64AD05"><enum>(3)</enum><text>publish a summary
of the data collected under paragraphs (1) and (2);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAAAAE11D1E4E481B9794BE979A7716EA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>identify—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFF223B9B9C0047879650A4E0230F1934"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the types of data
relevant to elder abuse that should be collected; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id107BC9BE9C5F40438AE66DAD072D7D5D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>what entity is
most capable of collecting the data described in subparagraph (A); and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF1B07C2F8C8D4902815E71017C927303"><enum>(5)</enum><text>develop
recommendations for collecting additional data relating to elder abuse.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Coordination of
civil protections and criminal prosecution as it relates to elder
justice</header>
<section id="id737d1950de7f4c3a843a4c308b502ad0"><enum>201.</enum><header>Model States
laws and practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services and the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (established under section
2021 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397k)), shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id7A499ED578F9418DB6412573FAE0A4C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>create, compile,
evaluate, and disseminate materials and information, and provide the necessary
training and technical assistance, to assist States and units of local
government in—</text>
<subparagraph id="id95F7BC7572E8464C993C62C215D0D2C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>investigating,
prosecuting, pursuing, preventing, understanding, and mitigating the impact
of—</text>
<clause id="id15F48D8FCD6043079A06321A5487D3B3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>physical, sexual,
and psychological abuse of elders;</text>
</clause><clause id="id58F0F705ACF849E7ABF8A5A68B9712EB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>exploitation of
elders, including financial abuse and scams targeting elders; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDd32aa00373f34383a86f2c1bb54fceb0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>neglect of
elders; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD603CA40FA8E438690B5D15E77257332"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assessing,
addressing, and mitigating the physical and psychological trauma to victims of
elder abuse;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID5c190e9c3890427ea71542dbdb6295c5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>collect data and
perform an evidence-based evaluation to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id32FF47E1B8514328ACB1594CCB59FEA8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assure the
efficacy of measures and methods intended to prevent, detect, respond to, or
redress elder abuse; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id586E571DFBF84762AA30001AAD984B9A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>evaluate the
number of victims of elder abuse in each State and the extent to which the
needs of the victims are served by crime victim services, programs, and sources
of funding;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id25636A7D4A2A4D209B95AB4BA4A6D379"><enum>(3)</enum><text>publish a report,
on an annual basis, that describes the results of the evaluations conducted
under paragraphs (1) and (2), and submit the report to each Federal agency,
each State, and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Special Committee on
Aging of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7E0E903EB7E0483E87AB5329A7685DEA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>evaluate training
models to determine best practices, create replication guides, create training
materials, if necessary, for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges,
emergency responders, individuals working in victim services, adult protective
services, social services, and public safety, medical personnel, mental health
personnel, financial services personnel, and any other individuals whose work
may bring them in contact with elder abuse regarding how to—</text>
<subparagraph id="idF6301CFAE0684515854AF1B27A21B92C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conduct
investigations in elder abuse cases;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE755D6EB4ED54D1A8BD0D2F92A52CDA0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>address
evidentiary issues and other legal issues; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF96A86A2868D4C9296D2859A7A57FB2F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>appropriately
assess, respond to, and interact with victims and witnesses in elder abuse
cases, including in administrative, civil, and criminal judicial
proceedings;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB5C394CF3EC6402184A94FDB6D542BE4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>conduct, and
update on a regular basis, a study of laws and practices relating to elder
abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idED46E4BC961941CEA931B26FAC2B2524"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a comprehensive
description of State laws and practices;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1678B21DC48F4A218DD386ECFBBC81F3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an analysis of
the effectiveness of State laws and practices, including—</text>
<clause id="id96F39172FBBD406FA7673F3A1C5D19A2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>whether the State
laws are enforced; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id0216B05D4A9E4EC0B226EFB1EA6E18AA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if
enforced—</text>
<subclause id="idC3CBC199B1F0449E961A38E6148B5BE3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>how the State
laws are enforced; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idB0AAC1C66D4C4E49997D9D99948B1958"><enum>(II)</enum><text>how enforcement
of the State laws has effected elder abuse within the State;</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id15BD88BB26A84EEE829E8BF4AF5CA1E5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a review of State
definitions of the terms <term>abuse</term>, <term>neglect</term>, and
<term>exploitation</term> in the context of elder abuse cases;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5228CF8348BF4DBEA793729D024B2050"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a review of State
laws that mandate reporting of elder abuse, including adult protective services
laws, laws that require the reporting of nursing home deaths or suspicious
deaths of elders to coroners or medical examiners, and other pertinent
reporting laws, that analyzes—</text>
<clause id="id3F3882572B7B436BBB12482FB1DF86D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
impact and efficacy of the State laws;</text>
</clause><clause id="id252C5004CB504E69AAE0FC92372C6250"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>whether the
State laws are enforced;</text>
</clause><clause id="idF78BAEB64D4645FDA2D81533D565235C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the levels of
compliance with the State laws; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id145475342F7543B2BB5FA5E6D5F9C702"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the response to,
and actions taken as a result of, reports made under the State laws;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id43D47B28C48A48EDBF9F4716ADED8012"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a review of State
evidentiary, procedural, sentencing, choice of remedies, and data retention
issues relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE393967D6C2D429CBDDF9B81C76BA62D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a review of State
fiduciary laws, including law relating to guardianship, conservatorship, and
power of attorney;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2FC319D6CA694A77B58959E94F46D579"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a review of State
laws that permit or encourage employees of depository institutions (as defined
in section 3(c)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(1))
and State credit unions (as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union
Act (12 U.S.C. 1752)) to prevent and report suspected elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFE17229B8AED44DBA0E4031390750127"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a review of State
laws used in civil court proceedings to prevent and address elder abuse;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0B08690B685E47BE9639D99B09E1D446"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a review of State
laws relating to fraud and related activities in connection with mail,
telemarketing, the Internet, or health care;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id567EC3AE66234FAAA5403BF52790E046"><enum>(J)</enum><text>a review of State
laws that create programs, offices, entities, or other programs that address or
respond to elder abuse; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id132FED0844A745248CBAC1A1961E9DC3"><enum>(K)</enum><text>an analysis of
any other State laws relating to elder abuse; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA9335CC4C2F406388B90668B1BEB58E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>carry out such
other duties as the Attorney General determines necessary in connection with
enhancing the understanding, prevention, detection, and response to elder
abuse.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id87587d3d03364bdaaec0f299f5a673a6"><enum>202.</enum><header>Civil
protection and criminal prosecution</header>
<subsection id="idb287c01c9e404be196fb78d2778ace27"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header>
<paragraph id="idABC6B18FD3CF48B6A798856DC69B976E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Attorney General, in cooperation with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services and the Legal Services Corporation, shall
establish a demonstration program to provide grants on an annual basis to not
more than 6 civil legal services entities that could prevent or provide
remedies for abuse, neglect, and exploitation and collaborate with other
organizations seeking to prevent, detect, and respond to elder abuse.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7013EAED7EA345E6840D7785C7A43ACC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>Grants
awarded under paragraph (1) shall be provided to entities that demonstrate a
commitment to representation of elder abuse victims or potential victims and
participating in multidisciplinary and interagency efforts to combat elder
abuse.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8325c6c7df69430c8fe35b6c03c0475d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>To
receive a grant under this section an entity shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id8044F15BC0A44DC59ABA1D6829456897"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be an experienced
nonprofit legal services provider; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id89BF247A25D34FE78501405F296EEAE5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>propose or
demonstrate—</text>
<subparagraph id="idbfa0c135dd6041e983b5ab2d86fe269c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>collaboration
with State or local aging, social, and human services and law enforcement
agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9de1212b97454b1ebdf6bf6100d6e98a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>partnership with
professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice
system; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4fc7d2e2640c47ec898e17dfaba924ac"><enum>(C)</enum><text>methodology for
timely evidenced-based evaluation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2f4f5d4e39ce4dd79a2079c9233c90df"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 6 months after the completion of the demonstration program under
this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on such program,
that includes the results of the program and recommendations for such
legislation and administrative action as the Attorney and Secretary determines
to be appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idc6e5f45909f442b1993063adf6327c9e"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Attorney General such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2013 through 2017
to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Interstate
initiatives</header>
<section id="idD7298AEE221944979718D52D84374A13"><enum>301.</enum><header>Interstate
agreements and compacts</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
consent of Congress is given to any 2 or more States (acting through State
agencies with jurisdiction over adult protective services) to enter into
agreements or compacts for cooperative effort and mutual assistance—</text>
<paragraph id="id7BA787F58B2E40879136DEBF4E04B9E7"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in promoting the safety and well-being of
elders; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCC7F0F9A8B7A4135B60E1A14D417C549"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in enforcing their respective laws and
policies to promote such safety and well-being.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id26A8A41922C7405EAB81AA7B11756C32"><enum>302.</enum><header>Recommendations
on interstate communication</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Executive Director of the State Justice
Institute, in consultation with State or local aging, social, and human
services and law enforcement agencies and nationally recognized nonprofit
associations with expertise in data sharing among criminal justice agencies and
familiarity with the issues raised in elder exploitation cases, shall submit to
Congress legislative proposals relating to the facilitation of interstate
agreements and compacts.</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>GAO
report</header>
<section id="id58e481175ac848458245734a8eb17f53"><enum>401.</enum><header>GAO report to
assess cost of elder abuse on Federal programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, in
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Department of
Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Attorney
General, and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, shall publish a
report reviewing any findings on the financial cost to the Federal Government
from the abuse and exploitation of elders.</text>
</section>