(STATEHOUSE) — A bill authored by State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) that protects the elderly, dependents, and endangered adults by increasing the scrutiny of, and penalties for, those who exploit them recently was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Senate Enrolled Act 249, which passed the Senate unanimously, makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a person in a position of trust to self-deal in the property of an endangered adult or a dependent. The offense is enhanced to a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for the same offense.
“We all too often see vulnerable people, often seniors, financially exploited by people in positions of trust,” Sen. Koch said. “This bill allows law enforcement to get involved and hold them accountable.”
With its passage, SEA 249 will go into effect July 1.
For more information on Senate Enrolled Act 249, visit https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2020/bills/Senate/249.
Sen. Koch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, serves Senate District 44, which includes all or parts of Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Monroe counties.
