San Nicolas’ Bill 243, Resolution 218 makes June session agenda
GUAM—With the support of his legislative colleagues, Democrat Senator Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas successfully got Bill No. 243-37 (COR) and Resolution No. 218-37 (COR) on the June session agenda, during the Committee on Rules meeting at the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on June 13.
Bill 243-37, authored by Sen. San Nicolas, aims to remove the statute of limitations for financial and property exploitation of an elderly person or individual with disability. According to the National Council on Aging, up to five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion.
“Financial exploitation of our man’amko and individuals with disabilities is a heinous crime that should not have a statute of limitations,” said San Nicolas. “The number of exploited elderly is astounding and justifies the creation of legislation to combat this issue. All of these findings by the National Council on Aging are alarming, something which our man’amko and persons with disabilities need to be protected from by putting the law on their side. As a government entity that serves the people, the Guam Legislature needs to enact legislation that would protect and help the man’amko and people with disabilities find justice in incidents of financial exploitation and abuse. To enact legislation, the elderly victims of financial exploitation and abuse would be able to pursue justice without the added worry of a deadline to file a lawsuit.”
Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan testified in support of the passage of the bill at its public hearing on April 1. Sen. William Parkinson is a co-sponsor of the bill. This act shall become effective upon enactment.
Additionally, Resolution 218-37 made the June session agenda. It aims to support legislation in Washington, D.C., covering the costs of shipping for adaptive vehicles for qualified veterans with disabilities.
“Thank you to my fellow lawmakers for the support in placing Resolution 218-37 on the session agenda for June,” San Nicolas, a veteran, said. “The cost of shipping is expensive, especially for those living out here in Guam. Amending the federal law will not only cover shipping costs for adaptive vehicles or other conveyances for disabled veterans, who qualify for financial assistance, but will also help them maintain their independence.”
Under federal law, financial assistance is provided to qualified veterans with disabilities to purchase adaptive vehicles or other conveyances. Currently, such vehicles are not available in Guam, costing thousands of dollars to qualified disabled veterans. Resolution 218-37 supports H.R. 522, Deliver for Veterans Act, introduced by Guam Congressman James Moylan in the United States House of Representatives, which seeks to cover the shipping and delivery expenses of adaptive vehicles provided for veterans with disabilities.
The bipartisan resolution is co-sponsored by Sens. Roy A.B. Quinata, Joe S. San Agustin, Parkinson, Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, Amanda Shelton, Speaker Therese Terlaje, Joanne Brown, Frank Blas, Jr., Chris Barnett, Christopher Duenas, and Jesse Lujan. (PR)
Dwyane T.D. San Nicolas
