SB3345 Summary

• Expands the Adult Protective Services Act to include "abandonment" as a form of abuse, defined as desertion or willful forsaking of an eligible adult by anyone having care or custody under circumstances where a reasonable person would continue providing care.

• Adds "abandonment" throughout the Act's definitions, responsibilities, reporting requirements, procedures, registry provisions, and access to records sections to ensure comprehensive coverage of this newly recognized form of elder abuse.

• Maintains existing protections and procedures for investigating reports, conducting assessments, developing service plans, and referring cases to law enforcement while integrating abandonment as a reportable and substantiable offense.

• Requires the Department on Aging to include abandonment cases in the Adult Protective Service Registry for substantiated findings, preventing identified caregivers from providing direct care in regulated positions.

• Applies abandonment protections to both seniors aged 60 and older and adults with disabilities aged 18-59 in domestic living situations, consistent with existing eligibility criteria for adult protective services.