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Bill would require statewide elder‑abuse training for judges, authors say
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Summary
A committee substitute for Senate Bill 29‑33 would add elder‑abuse and neglect training for judges statewide; proponents including a Bexar County probate judge described frequent, complex elder‑abuse cases and urged mandated training. The committee left the bill pending.
Senator Mendez presented a committee substitute to Senate Bill 29 33 that would require elder‑abuse and neglect training for judges. The substitute was described as a legislative drafting change that adds the training requirement.
“Comprehensive training on elder abuse and exploitation” is needed, Judge Veronica Vasquez said, explaining that older adults are vulnerable because of cognitive or physical incapacitation and may be targeted for coercion, isolation and financial exploitation. “Judges must be trained to recognize the signs of both cognitive and physical incapacitation,” Vasquez testified, noting statewide intake and validated case counts cited from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and national estimates from the Elder Justice Roadmap.
Senator Mendez said the substitute would make training statewide and would apply beyond probate judges to county judges and county court‑at‑law judges who handle guardianship cases. The committee recorded the judge’s testimony and left the bill pending; no vote was taken at the hearing.
Proponents argued the training would improve judges’ ability to evaluate credibility, recognize undue influence and protect older adults in diverse proceedings where abuse can appear, including probate and domestic relations matters.
