SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER KARR

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 1:  POSTAGE STAMP: ELDER ABUSE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE HAS ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL RATE OF POSTAGE FOR FIRST-CLASS MAIL TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE UNITED STATES POSTMASTER GENERAL TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL RATE OF POSTAGE FOR FIRST-CLASS MAIL, AND TO ISSUE A SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMP, TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 1: RELATING TO ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE 2000 DECENNIAL CENSUS, 35 MILLION UNITED STATES RESIDENTS ARE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, REPRESENTING 12 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION. BY-THE YEAR 2030 THE NUMBER OF UNITED STATES RESIDENTS WHO ARE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WILL NEARLY DOUBLE TO 60 MILLION, REPRESENTING 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION; AND

WHEREAS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 4 TO 6 PERCENT OF SENIOR CITIZENS BECOME VICTIMS OF SOME FORM OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION; AND

WHEREAS, ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION ARE CRIMES, AND ELDER ABUSE IS CALLED THE "CRIME OF THE 21ST CENTURY"; AND

WHEREAS, FEWER THAN 20 PERCENT OF ELDER ABUSE CASES ARE REPORTED TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; AND

WHEREAS, 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; AND

WHEREAS, 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; AND

WHEREAS, IN ORDER 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 PROSECUTORS; AND

WHEREAS, UNITED STATES SENATOR JOHN BREAUX ((D) LOUISIANA) HAS INTRODUCED SENATE BILL NO. 333 (THE ELDER JUSTICE ACT) THAT WILL PROVIDE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO COMBAT ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDER POPULATION OF THIS NATION; AND

WHEREAS, ONE MEANS OF FUNDING THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BE BY THE AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF 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; AND

WHEREAS, AN ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS STAMP WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A METHOD FOR ALL CITIZENS TO LEARN ABOUT AND CONTRIBUTE TO STOPPING THIS SHOCKING CRIME; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AFFORD THE PUBLIC A CONVENIENT WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS FUNDING ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS PROGRAMS BY AUTHORIZING THE UNITED STATES POSTMASTER GENERAL TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL RATE OF POSTAGE FOR FIRST-CLASS MAIL, AND TO ISSUE A SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMP REGARDING ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE  STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 

THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.