VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2014 SESSION

• history | pdf | print version

14102727D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 39 Offered January 8, 2014 Prefiled December 31, 2013 Requesting the Department of Social Services to study adult abuse in the Commonwealth. Report. ---------- Patron-- Webert ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, Virginia Adult Protective Services received almost 20,000 reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation in 2012, over 9,000 of which were substantiated; and

WHEREAS, studies indicate that for every adult abuse case reported to authorities, nearly 24 cases go unreported; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive study of adult abuse in the Commonwealth, along with strategies to prevent and raise awareness about adult abuse, may improve the safety and well-being of elderly individuals and adults with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Social Services be requested to study adult abuse in the Commonwealth.

In conducting its study, the Department of Social Services shall (i) convene a work group of professional and nonprofessional stakeholders to research the frequency and character of adult abuse allegations in the Commonwealth; (ii) compare the rates of abuse and allegations in the Commonwealth to other states; (iii) identify existing programs in the Commonwealth that prevent and raise awareness about adult abuse; (iv) research initiatives and programs used in other states to prevent and raise awareness about adult abuse; and (v) make recommendations regarding strategies and programs to improve the safety and well-being of elderly individuals and adults with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Social Services for this study, upon request.

The Department of Social Services shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2014, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.