20250ACR_020697CHP INTRODUCED 2026-05-14 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-06-04 PASSED_SENATE 2026-06-25 ENROLLED 2026-06-29 CHAPTERED 2026-07-06 FILED 2026-07-06 2025 ACR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Stefani (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Ahrens, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Haney, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Ta, Tangipa, Wallis, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Berman COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY DeMaio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ellis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Irwin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Johnson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patterson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ransom COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month.

Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month. This measure would proclaim the month of June as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month. NO

WHEREAS, The population of Californians over years of age is projected to increase by approximately percent during the period from to 2060, inclusive, with more than one-half of the counties experiencing a 100-percent increase in this age group; and

WHEREAS, Research by the National Institute of Justice found that an estimated percent of older adults over years of age, more than 7,000,000 Americans, reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment in the past year, including emotional, physical, nutritional, or sexual mistreatment or neglect; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that only one in incidents of elder abuse are reported and fewer than percent of those harmed access formal support services each year; and

WHEREAS, Many victims of abuse fail to report out of fear of losing relationships with those harming them, loss of cognitive ability, fear of retaliation, shame that someone they trust mistreated them, or distrust of the police and agencies charged with providing assistance; and

WHEREAS, Elder and disability abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial in nature, and such abuse knows no boundaries with respect to gender, race, culture, religion, geographic location, or the economic, educational, or social status of the victim; and

WHEREAS, Financial abuse ranked first among the types of abuse reported to adult protective services during 2024–25, with nearly 100,000 reports received; and

WHEREAS, According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2025, over 201,000 victims years of age and older reported scam-related losses totaling more than $7.7 billion, a 60-percent increase from 2024; and

WHEREAS, Barriers to accessing help include cognitive and communication impairments, limited literacy, lack of cultural and linguistically appropriate services, lack of awareness of, resources and advocacy, and shame. Additionally, older adults may doubt their ability to protect themselves, self-advocate, report abuse when it occurs, or testify against perpetrators. Additional concerns have been recognized with the increased use of artificial intelligence. Scammers are creating more complex and sophisticated schemes, including synthetic identity creation and digital account opening fraud, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission; and

WHEREAS, Factors that place older Californians at risk for abuse include cognitive and physical decline, dementia, isolation, loneliness, and limited access to preventive services, such as estate planning, daily money management, affordable supported housing, and assistance with decisionmaking; and

WHEREAS, One in every nine individuals over years of age is living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and approximately percent of the older adult population experience mild cognitive impairment, which is estimated to rise to 1,000,000 by year 2060. As many as one in two people with dementia may experience some form of abuse; and

WHEREAS, Subtle indicators that abuse may be occurring include bruises or pressure marks, unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, changes in alertness and mood, unusual depression, sudden changes in financial circumstances, strained or tense relationships, and frequent arguments, including sudden combativeness; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing these warning signs is a critical step toward the prevention of elder and disability abuse; and

WHEREAS, Elders who experience abuse or mistreatment face a greater likelihood of hospitalization, institutionalization, and increased reliance on social services systems; and

WHEREAS, Elder and disability abuse victims have a mortality rate up to three times that of the general older adult population and are significantly more likely to die a premature death; and

WHEREAS, All older adults, including those with disabilities, have the right to live safely in the least restrictive environment, whether in their homes or in health care facilities, and to enjoy an optimum quality of life while being protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

WHEREAS, Since 2019, California has collected comprehensive data on abuse cases perpetrated on older adults and adults with disabilities, including reports and investigations. Continued improvement in data collection and analysis strengthens the state’s ability to track trends, make informed policy decisions, enhance protections, and equip law enforcement partners with the tools necessary to secure justice; and

WHEREAS, Private citizens and public agencies must continue working collaboratively to combat crime and violence against older adults and adults with disabilities by addressing social isolation, expanding and resourcing home- and community-based long-term services and supports, strengthening law enforcement response, increasing public awareness, supporting early intervention, and enhancing social service programs; and

WHEREAS, Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month in California aligns with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, first established in and observed annually on June 15, to promote a better understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic issues associated with elder abuse globally; and

WHEREAS, On September 14, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1906, authored by Assembly Member Mike Gipson, which requires the California Law Revision Commission to submit a study to the Legislature on how to remove the outdated terms “dependent adult” and “dependent person” from California law; and

WHEREAS, The term “dependent adult” is an antiquated pejorative that does not reflect the independence and value that adults with disabilities possess. Usage of the term should be avoided and replaced with the term “adults with disabilities” to accurately reflect this fact; and

WHEREAS, On June 10, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued

Executive Order No. N-14-19, calling for the development of a 10-year Master Plan for Aging to serve as a blueprint for state government, local government, the private sector, and philanthropy to prepare for demographic changes and advance California’s leadership in aging, disability, and equity; and

WHEREAS, Goal three of the Master Plan for Aging, “Inclusion and Equity, Not Isolation,” calls for lifelong opportunities for older Californians and protection against isolation, discrimination, abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

WHEREAS, All Californians are strongly encouraged to report suspected older adult or adult with a disability abuse to their local adult protective services agency, local long-term care ombudsman program, law enforcement agency, or emergency services provider;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims and acknowledges the month of June as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month and reiterates the importance of annually recognizing Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month in the State of California; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.