Bill to end nursing home sex assaults passes unanimously

State Rep. Neal Torpey, R-Independence, and state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, near, keep eyes and ears on debate on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives during the opening hours of the 2013 veto session.
State Rep. Neal Torpey, R-Independence, and state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, near, keep eyes and ears on debate on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives during the opening hours of the 2013 veto session.

A bill that requires reporting of sex assaults in nursing homes and other similar facilities passed unanimously on the last day of the Missouri General Assembly's regular session Friday.

House Bill 1635, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, modifies state law relating to reporting suspected abuse or neglect of residents of long-term care facilities and who are 60 years old or older.

Currently, a report is required to be filed with the Department of Health and Senior Services in the event of suspected abuse or neglect, according to the bill summary. The bill requires that a report additionally be filed with local law enforcement under procedures of the Federal Elder Justice Act of 2009.

Bernskoetter said a Missouri woman whose elderly mother was assaulted in a nursing facility and later died was the inspiration for the bill. The assault was not reported to police until well after it happened. The woman, whose family sat behind him in the gallery of the House Chambers on Friday, became an advocate for seniors.

"They will never know who the perpetrator was who committed this heinous act," Bernskoetter said.

State Rep. Tracy McCreery, D-St. Louis, said she anticipated the bill passing unanimously.

"To me, this seems like a no-brainer," McCreery said. "It means people in nursing facilities will be protected down the road."

The bill is similar to bills proposed in 2017. It was assigned to the House General Laws Committee in the first week of January. By February, it had passed and been moved to the Rules Committee. It passed that committee unanimously and went on to the floor, where it passed March 14 and was sent to the state Senate. The Senate amended the bill, allowing the authorization of electronic monitoring in health care facilities, and was sent back to the House.

The bill finally passed 149-0. It now goes to Gov. Eric Greitens for his signature.