SB271 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, established, members, duties, subject to Sunset Law, reports to Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Governor, and Legislature, Elder Abuse Prevention Act

Summary

SB271 creates a state-level Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse to coordinate multiple agencies, designate a lead agency, and build a statewide plan to protect elders from abuse and improve care.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Alabama Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, defines elder abuse and related terms, and sets up a structure where many state agencies participate. It allows the council to adopt internal rules and designates a lead agency to run council activities. It requires a comprehensive, coordinated statewide plan for elder care and abuse prevention, reviewed semi-annually and reported to the Chief Justice, Governor, and Legislature, with implementation dependent on funding and subject to the Sunset Law.

Who It Affects

• Elderly Alabama residents and their families, who would gain better protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect through a coordinated system of care.
• State government and participating agencies (e.g., 911 Network, Courts, Attorney General, Departments of Public Health, Public Safety, Human Resources, Senior Services, Veterans Affairs, Medicaid, and others), which would participate in the council, appoint leaders, and implement the statewide plan.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse with defined membership, duties, the authority to adopt internal rules, and the designation of a lead agency.
• Defines elder abuse and related terms (physical, sexual, emotional/psychological abuse; neglect; self-neglect; material exploitation).
• Creates a Coordinated System of Care and identifies participating agencies; designates a lead agency to oversee council activities; allows directives on council operations.
• Sets council composition and governance: chief executives of participating agencies serve ex officio; meetings open to the public; prohibits voting that would create conflicts of interest; Chief Justice appoints the council chair and designates the lead agency on recommendation of the council.
• Outlines council duties: develop a long-range statewide plan for elder care and abuse prevention, identify roles of all agencies, and report progress to the Chief Justice, Governor, and Legislature by the 10th legislative day; plan includes removing barriers, coordinating services, and conducting fiscal analysis.
• Assigns lead agency responsibilities for general administration, supervision, and monitoring of all council activities.
• Links implementation to appropriations and allows for expanding council membership.
• Subject to the Alabama Sunset Law, with a termination date of October 1, 2015 and every four years thereafter unless continued.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse