Sep. 25, 2019
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Meghan Schroeder (R-Bucks) to help protect older Pennsylvanians from telemarketing scams was unanimously voted out of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee this morning at the state Capitol.
House Bill 1061 would help to improve interagency communication concerning suspected cases of elder financial exploitation. Specifically, Schroeder’s bill would require the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to notify the state Department of Aging of any investigations and enforcement actions taken within the purview of the PA Telemarketer Registration Act when those actions involve a consumer who is 60 years of age or older.
“Under current law, the attorney general is required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing investigations and enforcement actions taken in the preceding fiscal year,
said Schroeder. “My proposal would ensure that such actions involving older individuals are brought to the attention of the state Department of Aging. This would enable the department to coordinate with local protective services professionals to identify and prevent financial exploitation, such as scams and sweepstakes fraud.”
The Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Unit, created in 2006, investigates and prosecutes those who cheat, deceive or abuse older Pennsylvanians. Senior citizens are prime targets for many kinds of consumer fraud including identity theft and charity, telemarketing and sweepstakes fraud. In fact, financial exploitation is the fastest-growing category of elder abuse in the Commonwealth.
House Bill 1061 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Representative Meghan Schroeder
29th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
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