Ellen Young's (D-Flushing) Bill Combats Senior Domestic Abuse

A new bill penned by state Assemblywoman Ellen Young (D-Flushing) is expected to bring the state Office for the Aging and the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence into closer cooperation in an effort to highlight and reduce cases of domestic abuse against senior citizens.

The bill, the first to be authored by the first-term legislator, will make a representative of the Office for the Aging an ex officio member of the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Young said last Thursday that the bill was passed by both the state Senate and Assembly and is expected to be signed into law in the near future by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

"This bill is particularly important in light of the vicious mugging of 101-year-old Rose Morat of Queens in March," Young said. "Although not a domestic violence issue, it still shows that our senior citizens are susceptible to violence anywhere and additional care must be taken to ensure their protection. With the passage of this elder-abuse bill, we take an extra step to keep it out of our homes.

"Young said adding a new member to the state Domestic Violence office will provide an added perspective from someone who has hands-on experience with the issues the elderly community faces.

"We are creating the opportunity for this problem to be addressed and brought to light," said state Sen. Marty Golden (D-Brooklyn), who sponsored Young's bill to the state Senate.

Flushing businessman Peter Koo, who is running for a seat on the state Republican committee this fall, said Young's legislation is an important step toward ensuring the safety of the elderly.

"Our community respects and reveres seniors, and I join with Senate and Assembly leaders in making clear that abuse or violence against seniors will never be tolerated," Koo said.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.