§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 a designee), the Attorney General (or a designee), and heads of other federal departments or agencies the Chair says are involved with elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Every member must be a federal officer or employee. The Secretary (or designee) is the Chair. Vacancies do not stop the Council and are filled the same way as the original appointments. The Council must meet at least twice a year. The Council must recommend ways for HHS, the Department of Justice, and other federal, state, local, and private groups to work together on elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and related crimes. It must report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Energy and Commerce no later than 2 years after March 23, 2010, and every 2 years after that. Reports must describe activities, challenges, and recommendations for laws or other actions. The Council can get information from federal agencies as allowed under section 1397j–1(a), use U.S. mail like other agencies, and accept unpaid members while reimbursing travel and per diem at federal rates. Federal employees can be detailed to the Council without losing their job status. One federal rule (section 1013 of title 5) does not apply to the Council, and Congress may fund whatever sums are needed.