Elder abuse.

Existing law proscribes various crimes committed against an elder or dependent adult when the person knows or reasonably should know that the victim is an elder or dependent adult related to physical abuse, including causing or permitting an elder or dependent adult to suffer or inflicting thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering and violating. This bill would delete the language requiring that the person either know or reasonably should know that the victim was an elder or dependent adult from the definitions of those crimes. The bill would also expand those crimes to include willfully causing or permitting an elder or dependent adult to sustain any wound or physical or psychological injury. Because this bill would expand the definitions of crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.