BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 12|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SJR 12
Author: Simitian (D), et al
Amended: 1/22/08
Vote: 21
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE : 5-0, 7/11/07
AYES: Cedillo, Dutton, Padilla, Ashburn, Perata
SENATE FLOOR : 37-0, 8/27/07
AYES: Aanestad, Ackerman, Alquist, Ashburn, Battin,
Calderon, Cedillo, Cogdill, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Denham,
Ducheny, Florez, Harman, Hollingsworth, Kehoe, Kuehl,
Lowenthal, Machado, Maldonado, Margett, McClintock,
Migden, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Perata, Ridley-Thomas,
Romero, Runner, Scott, Simitian, Steinberg, Torlakson,
Wiggins, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dutton, Oropeza, Vincent
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 72-0, 2/12/08 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Elder abuse awareness stamp
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution requests the President and
Congress of the United States to afford the public a
convenient way to contribute towards the funding of elder
abuse prevention and awareness programs, by authorizing the
United States Postmaster General to establish a special
rate of postage for first-class mail, and to issue a
CONTINUED
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special postage stamp regarding elder abuse prevention and
awareness.
Assembly Amendments added co-sponsors and made a technical,
grammatical change.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution states:
1. According to the 2000 decennial census, 12 percent of
the total population in the United States was 65 years
of age or older, representing 35 million individuals.
By the year 2030, it is estimated that the number and
percentage of individuals who are 65 years of age or
older will nearly double to 20 percent of the total
population, or 60 million persons.
2. It is estimated that four to six percent of all senior
citizens will become victims of some form of elder
abuse, including neglect and exploitation.
3. The act of elder abuse, including neglect and
exploitation, is considered the "crime of the 21st
century".
4. Fewer than 20 percent of elder abuse cases are
reported to adult protective services or law
enforcement agencies.
5. According to the American Medical Association, seniors
who are abused or mistreated are three times more
likely to die earlier than seniors of the same age who
are not abused or mistreated.
6. Although the federal government spends $520 million on
programs designed to combat violence against women,
and $6.7 billion on child abuse prevention efforts, it
spends only $153.5 million on elder abuse prevention.
7. To combat elder abuse, our government has the
responsibility to help raise awareness in the
community and fund programs that protect elders, train
law enforcement, and support local and state
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prosecutors.
8. Former United States Senator John Breaux (D-Louisiana)
introduced Senate Bill No. 333, known as The Elder
Justice Act, which sought to provide national
leadership to combat elder abuse, including neglect
and exploitation.
9. If similar legislation is enacted, one means of
funding this legislation would be to authorize and
issue a special postage stamp, the revenue from which
would help fund the programs outlined in this bill. A
special postage stamp for elder abuse awareness, like
the breast cancer stamp, would cost postal patrons
more than the face value of the stamp. Funds collected
in excess of the face value of the stamp, after the
postal service is reimbursed for its costs related to
issuing this special postage stamp, would provide
funding for elder abuse programs.
10. An elder abuse awareness stamp would also provide a
method for all citizens to learn about, and contribute
to stopping, this shocking crime.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Aghazarian, Anderson, Arambula, Bass, Beall,
Benoit, Berg, Berryhill, Blakeslee, Brownley, Caballero,
Charles Calderon, Carter, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre,
De Leon, DeSaulnier, DeVore, Duvall, Dymally, Emmerson,
Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines,
Garrick, Hancock, Hayashi, Hernandez, Horton, Houston,
Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Karnette, Keene, Krekorian, La
Malfa, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Ma, Mendoza, Mullin,
Nakanishi, Nava, Niello, Parra, Portantino, Price, Sharon
Runner, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Smyth, Solorio,
Spitzer, Strickland, Swanson, Torrico, Tran, Villines,
Wolk, Nunez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Galgiani, Garcia, Huff, Lieu, Maze,
Plescia, Soto, Walters
RJG:nl 2/13/08 Senate Floor Analyses
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SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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