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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-03-17

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $2.178 million for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $4.542 million for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund 50 additional Adult Protective Services (APS) workers at county departments of social services across North Carolina. The new workers would investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with funds distributed to counties based on their caseload and elderly population.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that elder abuse is a growing problem in North Carolina, with rates increasing both from population growth and per-capita increases in reported cases.
• •They contend that current APS staff are overwhelmed and underfunded—federal block grants cover only 21% of costs while counties pay 79%—leaving many abuse reports uninvestigated.
• •Adding dedicated state funding for 50 new APS workers would help protect vulnerable older adults from physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that the state should not add recurring expenses without identifying corresponding budget cuts or revenue increases elsewhere.
• •They might question whether hiring 50 workers addresses the root causes of elder abuse or whether alternative approaches could be more cost-effective.
• •Some may also note concerns about whether counties will properly utilize new staff or whether additional state funding might reduce local accountability for providing APS services.