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HB 2228

elder abuse; registry; attorney general

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Walt Blackman

Arizona bill establishes Attorney General-managed registry of elder abuse offenders to prevent repeat victimization in senior care settings.

Senate Second Reading
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2228

Legislative bill overview

HB 2228 establishes a registry system for elder abuse cases and grants the Arizona Attorney General authority to maintain and manage this registry. The bill appears designed to create a centralized database tracking individuals convicted of or substantiated for elder abuse offenses to protect vulnerable older adults from repeat offenders.

Why is this important

Elder abuse—including financial exploitation, neglect, and physical harm—affects tens of thousands of seniors annually, yet perpetrators often move between facilities or jurisdictions with limited consequence tracking. A statewide registry would enable caregiving facilities, law enforcement, and agencies to identify individuals with prior substantiated abuse histories, potentially preventing future victimization of vulnerable populations.

Potential points of contention

  • Due process and inclusion criteria: Questions about what level of evidence triggers registry inclusion (conviction vs. substantiation vs. allegations) and whether accused individuals have adequate appeal mechanisms
  • Privacy and collateral consequences: Concerns that registry designation could impose permanent employment and housing barriers even for lower-level substantiations or dismissed cases
  • Implementation costs and accuracy: Administrative burden on the Attorney General's office to maintain accuracy, prevent false entries, and handle record removal requests, with unclear funding mechanism
  • Scope definition: Uncertainty about which offenses qualify, whether out-of-state convictions are included, and how "elder abuse" is legally defined across different statutes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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