HB 0379 2004
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to elder abuse and neglect; creating s.
3    825.108, F.S.; requiring that a case worker or protective
4    investigator from the Department of Children and Family
5    Services request a mental health examination of an elderly
6    victim of abuse or neglect if there is suspicion of mental
7    incompetency; amending s. 825.102, F.S.; increasing the
8    penalty for committing aggravated abuse of an elderly
9    person or disabled adult from a second degree felony to a
10    first degree felony; creating the Task Force Against Abuse
11    and Neglect of the Elderly within the Department of
12    Children and Family Services; providing for membership and
13    duties of the task force; requiring reports to the
14    Legislature; amending s. 921.0022, F.S., relating to the
15    offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment
16    Code; conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
17    providing an effective date.
18         
19          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20         
21          Section 1. Section 825.108, Florida Statutes, is created
22    to read:
23          825.108 Mental health examination.--If a case worker or
24    protective investigator from the Department of Children and
25    Family Services has reason to believe that a person older than
26    65 years of age who is the victim of abuse or neglect is
27    mentally incompetent, the case worker or investigator may
28    request that the person undergo a mental health evaluation by a
29    mental health provider that is under contract with the
30    department. The person must be examined within 48 hours
31    following the initial observation by the case worker or
32    investigator.
33          Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 825.102, Florida
34    Statutes, is amended to read:
35          825.102 Abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of an elderly
36    person or disabled adult; penalties.--
37          (2) "Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled
38    adult" occurs when a person:
39          (a) Commits aggravated battery on an elderly person or
40    disabled adult;
41          (b) Willfully tortures, maliciously punishes, or willfully
42    and unlawfully cages, an elderly person or disabled adult; or
43          (c) Knowingly or willfully abuses an elderly person or
44    disabled adult and in so doing causes great bodily harm,
45    permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the elderly
46    person or disabled adult.
47         
48          A person who commits aggravated abuse of an elderly person or
49    disabled adult commits a felony of the first seconddegree,
50    punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
51          Section 3. Task Force Against Abuse and Neglect of the
52    Elderly.--
53          (1) The Task Force Against Abuse and Neglect of the
54    Elderly is created within the Department of Children and Family
55    Services. The Secretary of Children and Family Services, the
56    Secretary of Elderly Affairs, and the executive director of the
57    Department of Law Enforcement shall each appoint four members to
58    the task force. The Secretary of Children and Family Services
59    shall designate one appointee as the chairperson of the task
60    force.
61          (2) The task force shall:
62          (a) Evaluate the current curriculum used to train law
63    enforcement officers in identifying abuse and neglect of elderly
64    persons. This evaluation must be completed and submitted to the
65    Legislature by July 1, 2005.
66          (b) Prepare a list of recommendations for improving the
67    curriculum used to train law enforcement officers in identifying
68    abuse and neglect of elderly persons and preventing such abuse
69    and neglect. This list of recommendations must be submitted to
70    the Legislature by September 1, 2005.
71          Section 4. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
72    921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
73          921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity
74    ranking chart.--
75          (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
76         
77         
Florida Felony
78         
StatuteDegree Description
79         
80         
(h) LEVEL 8
81         
316.193(3)(c)3.a.2ndDUI manslaughter.
82         
327.35(3)(c)3.2ndVessel BUI manslaughter.
83         
499.0051(7)1stForgery of prescription or legend drug labels.
84         
499.00521stTrafficking in contraband legend drugs.
85         
560.123(8)(b)2.2ndFailure to report currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding $20,000, but less than $100,000 by money transmitter.
86         
560.125(5)(b)2ndMoney transmitter business by unauthorized person, currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding $20,000, but less than $100,000.
87         
655.50(10)(b)2.2ndFailure to report financial transactions totaling or exceeding $20,000, but less than $100,000 by financial institutions.
88         
777.03(2)(a)1stAccessory after the fact, capital felony.
89         
782.04(4)2ndKilling of human without design when engaged in act or attempt of any felony other than arson, sexual battery, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, aircraft piracy, or unlawfully discharging bomb.
90         
782.051(2)1stAttempted felony murder while perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate a felony not enumerated in s. 782.04(3).
91         
782.071(1)(b)1stCommitting vehicular homicide and failing to render aid or give information.
92         
782.072(2)1stCommitting vessel homicide and failing to render aid or give information.
93         
790.161(3)1stDischarging a destructive device which results in bodily harm or property damage.
94         
794.011(5)2ndSexual battery, victim 12 years or over, offender does not use physical force likely to cause serious injury.
95         
800.04(4)2ndLewd or lascivious battery.
96         
806.01(1)1stMaliciously damage dwelling or structure by fire or explosive, believing person in structure.
97         
810.02(2)(a)1st,PBL Burglary with assault or battery.
98         
810.02(2)(b)1st,PBLBurglary; armed with explosives or dangerous weapon.
99         
810.02(2)(c)1st Burglary of a dwelling or structure causing structural damage or $1,000 or more property damage.
100         
812.13(2)(b)1stRobbery with a weapon.
101         
812.135(2)1stHome-invasion robbery.
102         
817.568(6)2ndFraudulent use of personal identification information of an individual under the age of 18.
103         
825.102(2)1st2ndAggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
104         
825.1025(2)2ndLewd or lascivious battery upon an elderly person or disabled adult.
105         
825.103(2)(a)1stExploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at $100,000 or more.
106         
837.02(2)2ndPerjury in official proceedings relating to prosecution of a capital felony.
107         
837.021(2)2ndMaking contradictory statements in official proceedings relating to prosecution of a capital felony.
108         
860.121(2)(c)1stShooting at or throwing any object in path of railroad vehicle resulting in great bodily harm.
109         
860.161stAircraft piracy.
110         
893.13(1)(b)1stSell or deliver in excess of 10 grams of any substance specified in s. 893.03(1)(a) or (b).
111         
893.13(2)(b)1stPurchase in excess of 10 grams of any substance specified in s. 893.03(1)(a) or (b).
112         
893.13(6)(c)1stPossess in excess of 10 grams of any substance specified in s. 893.03(1)(a) or (b).
113         
893.135(1)(a)2.1stTrafficking in cannabis, more than 2,000 lbs., less than 10,000 lbs.
114         
893.135(1)(b)1.b.1stTrafficking in cocaine, more than 200 grams, less than 400 grams.
115         
893.135(1)(c)1.b.1stTrafficking in illegal drugs, more than 14 grams, less than 28 grams.
116         
893.135(1)(d)1.b.1stTrafficking in phencyclidine, more than 200 grams, less than 400 grams.
117         
893.135(1)(e)1.b.1stTrafficking in methaqualone, more than 5 kilograms, less than 25 kilograms.
118         
893.135(1)(f)1.b.1stTrafficking in amphetamine, more than 28 grams, less than 200 grams.
119         
893.135(1)(g)1.b.1stTrafficking in flunitrazepam, 14 grams or more, less than 28 grams.
120         
893.135(1)(h)1.b.1stTrafficking in gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), 5 kilograms or more, less than 10 kilograms.
121         
893.135(1)(j)1.b.1stTrafficking in 1,4-Butanediol, 5 kilograms or more, less than 10 kilograms.
122         
893.135(1)(k)2.b.1stTrafficking in Phenethylamines, 200 grams or more, less than 400 grams.
123         
895.03(1)1stUse or invest proceeds derived from pattern of racketeering activity.
124         
895.03(2)1stAcquire or maintain through racketeering activity any interest in or control of any enterprise or real property.
125         
895.03(3)1stConduct or participate in any enterprise through pattern of racketeering activity.
126         
896.101(5)(b)2ndMoney laundering, financial transactions totaling or exceeding $20,000, but less than $100,000.
127         
896.104(4)(a)2.2ndStructuring transactions to evade reporting or registration requirements, financial transactions totaling or exceeding $20,000 but less than $100,000.
128          Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.