Amendments to the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099) Passed Unanimously Before the 36th Legislature

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After two years of hard work, the amendments to the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099) passed unanimously today before the 36th Legislature. AARP VI testified in support of the amendments to the territory’s Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act (Bill 36-0099). This Bill was sponsored by Senator-at-Large Angel L. Bolques, Jr.

“Elder abuse is not an abstract problem - it is a harsh reality in our islands. Too often, it is hidden in silence, whether in the form of financial exploitation, physical harm, neglect, or psychological manipulation. Each case represents not just a crime, but a betrayal of trust and a violation of the fundamental right to live with dignity and safety,” stated AARP State Director Troy De Chabert-Schuster.

Bill 36-0099 will now move forward for consideration by the Committee on Rules and Judiciary. AARP VI would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Senator-at-Large Angle L. Bolques, Jr., for his unrelenting work toward elder justice, and to Senators Alma Francis Heyliger, Avery L. Lewis, Marvin A. Blyden, Carla J. Joseph, Franklin D. Johnson, and Novelle E. Francis, Jr., for their unanimous vote in favor of Bill 36-0099. AARP VI would also like to thank their community partners who testified in today’s hearing: The Department of Human Services, the Department of Justice, and the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands.