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AB-3207 The Secure Seniors Protection Act.(2023-2024)



Current Version: 04/25/24 - Amended Assembly

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AB3207:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 3207

Introduced by Assembly Member Joe Patterson

February 16, 2024

An act to add Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 9900) to Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 3207, as amended, Joe Patterson. The Secure Seniors Online Protection Act.
Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services in the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law designates the department as the single state agency with full power to supervise every phase of the administration of public social services, except health care services and medical assistance, as specified.
This bill, the Secure Seniors Online Protection Act, would require the State Department of Social Services to, subject to an appropriation, on or before January 1, 2026, establish and administer a 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free hotline to assist all Californians in dealing with online scams, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to ensure that the program and its staff are equipped to meet the needs of individuals who are 60 years of age and older. The bill would require, on or before January 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the State Department of Social Services to submit a report to the Legislature and the relevant policy committees containing, among other things, the number of seniors served, the types of problems the program assisted seniors with, and recommendations for improving the program.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Elderly individuals face a growing risk of becoming a victim of online fraud and theft.
(b) The rise of digital technologies and an increased internet use has exposed seniors to financial scams that have led to substantial losses and harm to their overall well-being.
(c) In 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that scams targeting older adults resulted in losses of $1.7 billion.
(d) The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging has concluded that the top scams since 2015 have targeted seniors.
(e) In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Protection Data Spotlight reported that romance scams hit a record high. These scams not only cause monetary problems for seniors, but they also affect them emotionally and mentally.
(f) According to a Comparitech report, there was a 47 percent 47-percent increase in fraud and identity theft reports in 2020, with seniors losing over $3 billion.
(g) California is the state most affected by these scams, with over 12,000 victims 60 years of age and older.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 9900) is added to Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
CHAPTER  15. The Secure Seniors Online Protection Act

9900.
 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Secure Seniors Online Protection Act.

9901.
 (a) (1) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Department of Social Services shall establish and administer, a toll-free telephone hotline number to assist all Californians in dealing with online scams.
(2) While the State Department of Social Services shall make this program available to all Californians, the department shall ensure that the program and its staff are equipped to meet the needs of individuals who are 60 years of age and older.
(b) The hotline shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week during standard business hours via a toll-free telephone hotline number.
(1) Hotline workers shall be available to respond to all callers.
(2) Hotline services shall be available in English and Spanish.
(3) Hotline workers shall provide callers with information and assistance, as necessary, to address harms resulting from the scam. Where appropriate, hotline workers shall direct callers to the appropriate government authority for review and possible investigation.
(4) Hotline workers shall hold in confidence information disclosed by a caller and may disclose such information only with the informed, written consent of the caller.

9902.
 For purposes of implementing this chapter, the State Department of Social Services may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis, and may implement changes to existing information technology systems.

9903.
 (a) On or before January 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the State Department of Social Services shall submit a report to the Legislature and the relevant policy committees that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The total number of individuals served.
(2) The number of seniors served.
(3) The types of problems that individuals requested help with.
(4) The types of problems that seniors requested help with.
(5) The outcomes for individuals served, if known.
(6) Recommendations to the Legislature on how to improve this program.
(b) The report required by this section shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

9904.
 This chapter shall become operative only upon an appropriation by the Legislature.