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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Kevin Murphy |
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Committee OKs Murphy proposal to protect seniors
HARRISBURG, Feb. 9 – The state House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Kevin Murphy that would help protect older Pennsylvanians from financial exploitation.
Murphy's legislation (H.B. 92) would allow county agencies on aging to investigate cases in which a senior was financially exploited, even if the alleged perpetrator held power of attorney for the senior.
"The overwhelming majority of people honor their responsibilities to our more vulnerable senior citizens," said Murphy, D-Lackawanna. "However, there are still some unscrupulous people among us who would gladly take advantage of an older person relying on them for help, a chance that only goes up with the economic hardships facing many people."
Pennsylvania is home to about 2.5 million people older than 60, and the state Department of Aging estimates that 12.3 percent of all substantiated reports of elder abuse involve financial exploitation.
The House unanimously passed similar Murphy legislation last session but it received no action by the state Senate.
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