HB 527 — An Act providing for communication duties between the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services with certain agencies and the Department of Aging relating to abuse of adults and older adults.

PRINTER'S NO.   520

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        HOUSE BILL
                        No. 527
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY FLOOD, BOROWSKI, FLICK, GAYDOS, GUENST, KENYATTA,
        LABS, M. MACKENZIE, MAKO, MARCELL, MENTZER, RADER, SOLOMON
        AND STAATS, FEBRUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
        FEBRUARY 10, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Providing for communication duties between the Department of
 2      Health and the Department of Human Services with certain
 3      agencies and the Department of Aging relating to abuse of
 4      adults and older adults.
 5      This act may be referred to as the Robert Raph Act.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8   Section 1.    Short title.
 9      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Communication
10   of Older Adult Abuse Act.
11   Section 2.    Definitions.
12      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14   context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      "Abuse."    Either of the following:
16          (1)    as defined in section 103 of the act of November 6,
17      1987 (P.L.381, No.79), known as the Older Adults Protective
18      Services Act; or
 1             (2)   as defined in section 103 of the act of October 7,
 2      2010 (P.L.484, No.70), known as the Adult Protective Services
 3      Act.
 4      "Adult."      As defined in section 103 of the Adult Protective
 5   Services Act.
 6      "Facility."      Any of the following:
 7             (1)   A long-term care nursing facility as defined in
 8      section 802.1 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48),
 9      known as the Health Care Facilities Act.
10             (2)   A hospice as defined in section 802.1 of the Health
11      Care Facilities Act.
12             (3)   A personal care home as defined in section 1001 of
13      the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human
14      Services Code.
15             (4)   An assisted living residence as defined in section
16      1001 of the Human Services Code.
17      "Older adult."      As defined in section 103 of the Older Adults
18   Protective Services Act.
19   Section 3.      Communication duties of departments.
20      (a)    Allegations involving older adults.--When an allegation
21   of abuse involving an older adult residing in a facility is
22   reported to the Department of Health or the Department of Human
23   Services, the department that received the allegation shall:
24             (1)   Refer the allegation to the local area agency on
25      aging for screening and investigation in accordance with the
26      act of November 6, 1987 (P.L.381, No.79), known as the Older
27      Adults Protective Services Act.
28             (2)   So long as the disclosure is not otherwise
29      prohibited by law, provide all information related to the
30      allegation to the local area agency on aging to aid in the

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 1      investigation of alleged abuse.
 2      (b)   Allegations involving adults.--When an allegation of
 3   abuse involving an adult residing in a facility is reported to
 4   either the Department of Health or the Department of Human
 5   Services, the department that received the allegation shall:
 6            (1)   Refer the allegation in accordance with the act of
 7      October 7, 2010 (P.L.484, No.70), known as the Adult
 8      Protective Services Act.
 9            (2)   So long as the disclosure is not otherwise
10      prohibited by law, provide all information related to the
11      allegation to the local contracted provider of protective
12      services to aid in the investigation of alleged abuse.
13      (c)   Ongoing communication.--The Department of Health, the
14   Department of Human Services and the Department of Aging shall
15   establish ongoing communication to determine the most effective
16   and efficient manner in which the information under this section
17   will be shared.
18      (d)   Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
19   construed to supersede or negate the requirements for mandatory
20   reporting under Chapter 5 of the Adult Protective Services Act
21   or under Chapter 7 of the Older Adults Protective Services Act.
22   Section 4.     Effective date.
23      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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