On Tuesday, members of the Arizona Legislature, as well as disability advocates, aging advocates and heads of some state agencies, held a study committee to look at the issue of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults with disabilities and seniors.
Democratic Rep. Jennifer Longdon chairs the study committee. She asked everyone in attendance four questions, stemming from what happened at Hacienda HealthCare, the Phoenix facility where an incapacitated woman was raped and later gave birth.
"When these incidents came to light and caused you to examine your own perspective on this wheel, what did you discover for the good and for the bad? Based on that, what changes have you made? And what do you feel you still need to do, and lastly what do you need from the Arizona Legislature to get that done?" asked Longdon.
Over the coming months, the group will explore how allegations of abuse and neglect are reported and investigated.
House Speaker Rusty Bowers announced the creation of the committee in June.
