§1397k Elder Justice Coordinating Council

Summary

Creates an Elder Justice Coordinating Council inside the Office of the Secretary. The Council must include the Secretary (or the Secretary’s designee) as Chair, the Attorney General (or the Attorney General’s designee), and the heads of federal departments or agencies that deal with elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Members must be federal officers or employees. Vacancies do not stop the Council and must be filled the same way as the original appointment. The Chair must call at least two meetings each year. The Council must make recommendations to the Secretary to coordinate HHS, DOJ, and other federal, state, local, and private efforts on elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other crimes against elders. The Council may get needed information from federal agencies, subject to the requirements of section 1397j–1(a), and may use the U.S. mail. Not later than 2 years after March 23, 2010, and every 2 years after that, the Council must send a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. The report must describe the Council’s and its members’ activities, accomplishments, and challenges, and give any recommendations for laws, model laws, or other actions. Council members do not get pay for their service but may receive travel expenses and per diem at rates authorized for federal employees. The Secretary may accept voluntary unpaid services despite section 1342 of title 31. Federal employees may be detailed to the Council without reimbursement and without losing their civil service status. Section 1013 of title 5 does not apply to the Council. Money as needed may be appropriated to run the Council.