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New study committee on vulnerable adults in Arizona finally kicks off

Man holds bill
Kathy Ritchie/KJZZ
Arizona state Rep. Tim Dunn, a Republican, worked with several stakeholders over many months to eventually pass one of the most comprehensive, bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming care in assisted living facilities.
Coverage of aging is supported in part by AARP Arizona

In April, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law one of the most comprehensive pieces of long-term care legislation. The bill also required the creation of a Vulnerable Adults Study Committee, which kicked off Thursday.

The goal of this study committee is to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable adults.

The group met for the first time on Thursday. Republican state Rep. Tim Dunn co-chairs the group along with Republican Sen. Janae Shamp.

"Welcome you guys all to the committee. This was, I think it's the next historical move that we're gonna do to try to collectively come together," Dunn said. "We all have reasons to be here. We all want to do things. I keep reminding our stakeholders that we went through processes last year, we're all here for the patient."

The study committee is required to create two working groups to address the needs of those with intellectual or developmental disabilities and those who are elderly or have a physical disability.

KJZZ senior field correspondent Kathy Ritchie has 20 years of experience reporting and writing stories for national and local media outlets — nearly a decade of it has been spent in public media.
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