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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Ken Smith |
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Smith long-term care safety bill approved by House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee
HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee today approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Ken Smith, D-Lackawanna, which would help to protect patients in long-term care facilities from seriously harming themselves
Smith's legislation (H.B. 2109) would require long-term care facility employees and administrators to report patient self-neglect cases within 48 hours of an incident to area agency on aging facilities in counties across Pennsylvania.
"My proposal would provide better safeguards for people who become a physical threat to themselves or others because of neglectful actions," Smith said.
The Lackawanna County lawmaker said he wants to revise the current law to include reporting neglect cases at long-term care facilities. Currently, only the reporting of abuse is required.
In addition, the legislation would require long-term care facility employees and administrators to report neglect cases that result in a recipient's death to the coroner within a 24-hour period.
Smith's bill would call for fines of up to $2,500 or one year imprisonment or both for the owner or administrators of the long-term care facility. Also, individuals who fail to report an incident to authorities would face a summary offense for the first violation and third-degree misdemeanor for the second or subsequent violations.
Smith is hopeful that the bill will soon be considered by the full House.
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