More Adult Protective Services Staff to Address Elder Abuse.

This bill proposes to allocate $2,178,000 in state funds to hire at least 25 additional Adult Protective Services workers across North Carolina counties starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is intended specifically to cover salaries and benefits for new staff who will investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with distribution based on factors like case volume and the number of seniors in each area. The legislation explicitly prohibits using these funds to replace existing staff or for any purpose other than paying the new workers. Although the bill was withdrawn from committee in May 2026, its primary function is to increase state funding for local social services agencies to address a growing demand for elder abuse investigations.