KRS 209.005: Elder Abuse Committee -- Membership -- Duties -- Annual report.

(1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall create an Elder Abuse Committee

to develop a model protocol on elder abuse and neglect in the Commonwealth, that

shall be comprised of various agency representatives that include but are not limited

to:

(a) The Department for Community Based Services;

(b) The Department for Public Health;

(c) The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual

Disabilities;

(d) The Department for Aging and Independent Living;

(e) The Office of Inspector General's Division of Health Care;

(f) The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman;

(g) Area Agencies on Aging;

(h) Local and state law enforcement official; and

(i) Prosecutors.

(2) The committee shall address issues of prevention, interv ention, investigation, and

agency coordination of services on a state and local level through interaction with

local groups or entities that either directly or indirectly provide services to the elder

population, including but not limited to:

(a) Senior citizen centers;

(b) Local governmental human service groups;

(c) The Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky;

(d) Long-Term Care Ombudsmen; and

(e) Other organizations or associations dedicated to serving elder citizens and

their families in the Commonwealth.

(3) The committee shall:

(a) Recommend a model protocol for the joint multidisciplinary investigation of

reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly;

(b) Recommend practices to assure timely reporting of referrals of abuse, neglect,

or exploitation required under KRS 209.030(12);

(c) Explore the need for a comprehensive statewide resource directory of services

for the elderly;

(d) Enhance existing public awareness campaigns for elder abuse and neglect;

and

(e) Provide forums for the exchange of information to educate the elder

population and their families on the rights of elders.

(4) The committee shall produce an annual report of their activities, products, and

recommendations for public policy to the Governor and the Legislative Research

Commission.