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HB 1131

More Adult Protective Services Staff to Address Elder Abuse.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 31 co-sponsors

NC HB1131 funds 25 new full-time Adult Protective Services workers in 2026-27 to boost investigations of elder abuse, prioritized by county need.

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Bill Summary · HB 1131

Summary of HB 1131 (2025 Session) – More Adult Protective Services Staff to Address Elder Abuse (North Carolina)

Purpose and intent

  • HB 1131 proposes a state-funded initiative to strengthen the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, by adding more Adult Protective Services (APS) workers across county Departments of Social Services (DSS).
  • The primary goal is to address a rising volume of elder abuse reports and workload pressures on APS units amid an aging population.

Key provisions

Section 1: Appropriation and distribution

  • Funding: Appropriates $2,178,000 in recurring General Fund money for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  • Personnel impact: Intended to increase the statewide number of full-time APS workers by at least 25 positions for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  • Allocation method: The additional 25 APS positions will be distributed to county DSS offices based on demonstrated need, as determined by the Division of Social Services (DSS) in consultation with the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services.
  • Need assessment factors: The Division, in consultation with county directors, must consider:
    • (i) Total APS cases in each county
    • (ii) Number of APS workers required to adequately assess/evaluate those cases
    • (iii) County population aged 65 and older
    • (iv) Volume of reports related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults per county

Section 1: Restrictions on use of funds

  • Purpose restrictions: Counties receiving funds must use them exclusively for salaries, benefits, and related expenses for the additional APS workers or to supplement existing funds for APS staff.
  • No substitution: Funds may not be used to supplant other funding sources or for purposes other than APS staffing-related costs.

Section 2: Effective date

  • The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • State level: Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, responsible for administering the funding and distributing new APS positions.
  • Local level: County Departments of Social Services that administer APS locally; they will receive funding and must allocate the new positions to address local needs.
  • Populations served: Elderly and vulnerable adults who are the subject of APS investigations (including cases of physical, sexual, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, confinement, or deprivation).

Potential impact

  • Enhanced capacity for APS investigations: An additional at least 25 full-time APS workers could improve response times, case handling, and thoroughness of investigations.
  • Resource allocation targeted to need: Funding distribution is designed to reflect county-level workload and aging demographics, aiming for equity in staffing where the need is greatest.
  • Sustainability and budgeting: The funding is recurring (not one-time), aligning with ongoing staffing needs and program operations.

Timeline

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • 2026-2027 fiscal year: The 25 additional APS positions funded by this act are to be implemented and utilized during this period, with ongoing considerations for distribution based on the specified criteria.

Notes

  • The bill reflects North Carolina’s approach to APS funding, noting that currently the state does not allocate state funds for APS (relying on federal SSBG funds and local county contributions). This bill would introduce a state-funded mechanism to bolster APS staffing specifically.

If you’d like, I can add a quick comparison to current staffing levels or outline potential metrics for evaluating the impact of the new positions.

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

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