FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New laws will protect senior citizens
in a variety of important ways
July 1 marked a time of greater safety for senior citizens in Indiana – in more ways than one.
A number of new laws went into effect designed to shield seniors from both the physical hazards of nursing home fires and the mental anguish of identity theft. From more energy assistance during harsh winter weather to maintaining the popular CHOICE program, these new laws offer peace of mind for many senior citizens and their families.
Here is a summary of the new laws:
Senate Enrolled Act 93: This protects nursing home patients, staff and visitors from fires by requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems and alarms throughout the facilities and smoke alarm systems in each resident’s room. For the benefit of seniors and loved ones, the Indiana Department of Health will publish details on the type and location of fire sprinkler systems and smoke detectors in its new “Consumer Guide to Nursing Homes.” Guides are available online at
http://www.in.gov/isdh/regsvcs/cnf-c_index.htm
Freezing Credit Reports to Prevent ID Theft: Identity theft is one of the most concerning crimes victimizing seniors across the nation, which is why your Indiana Senate fought to pass legislation giving consumers control of their financial identities by limiting access to their credit reports. SEA 403 enables a consumer to “freeze” their credit report through national credit reporting agencies – effectively stopping any new accounts or credit lines from being established by inquiring lenders. Only the consumer can “thaw or unfreeze” the report... if and when they want to. Indiana’s new law also allows consumers to take civil action to pursue damages, if the agency releases the consumer’s information after a “freeze” has been established.
Home Energy Assistance: Seniors, especially low-income elderly, have been hard hit by escalating costs of necessities like utilities. HEA 1037 helps our low income Indiana seniors by exempting them until 2009 from the 6 percent sales tax on any utility assistance paid through the federal Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)... stretching these valuable assistance dollars and helping low-income seniors that much more.
Community and Home Options for Elderly, Persons with Disabilities: Our new two-year Indiana budget funds the Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (CHOICE) program at $48.8 million each year. I was among Senators who felt it important to maintain CHOICE funding, so qualifying seniors would have the option to receive care in the comfort of home.
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