Bill would require more business people to report elderly abuse

COLUMBUS

Bankers, financial advisers and others who suspect elderly customers are being scammed would be required to report the incidents, under legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Rep. Mike Dovilla, a Republican from the Cleveland area, said House Bill 49 would add to provisions in state law requiring reporting of physical abuse to include financial harm and other acts against residents older than 60.

Doctors, hospital and nursing home employees, clergy and others already are required to report suspected abuse. The new bill would expand the list to include pharmacists, dialysis technicians, certified public accountants, notaries public and investment advisers.

The legislation, called the Ohio Elder Justice Act, also calls for creating a statewide registry of elder-abuse incidents and providing increased training on the issue for caseworkers.

Dovilla said part of the impetus for the legislation was an incident involving one of his grandparents.

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