SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman advanced legislation to strengthen protections for older adults by allowing courts to issue temporary restraining orders in cases involving abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.
“Older adults and vulnerable individuals are too often targeted by scammers and bad actors looking to take advantage of them financially,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure gives courts and law enforcement stronger tools to step in quickly, stop exploitation and protect victims before even more harm is done.”
House Bill 4649 would create a new mechanism to protect the assets of eligible adults who have been reported or found to be victims of abuse, abandonment, neglect, financial exploitation or self-neglect. The measure, supported by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, aims to make it easier to intervene in exploitation cases involving scammers who may only communicate through apps or other indirect methods.
Current law allows the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Department on Aging or a provider agency to petition to freeze an eligible adult’s assets if financial exploitation has been suspected. Stadelman’s measure would expand those protections by allowing courts to issue temporary restraining orders that can prohibit further exploitation, freeze assets and lines of credit, bar contact with the victim, remove a respondent from a shared residence and provide more clarity to law enforcement agencies. The legislation would also ensure eligible adults can continue paying necessary living expenses while financial protections are in place.
“Financial exploitation can wipe out a person’s life savings in a matter of days,” said Stadelman. “This measure creates a faster, more effective process to protect vulnerable adults and preserve their financial security while cases are being resolved.”
House Bill 4649 passed the Senate Friday.
