Health

Bill To Create Registry For Elderly Moves Forward

ST. THOMAS -- Bill No. 32-0064, which seeks to create a registry of the elderly and people with disabilities living alone, was approved in the Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services on Tuesday, and will now move to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further vetting. Senator Dwayne DeGraff, who sponsored the measure, said the bill "is significant in assisting persons to receive the necessary assistance as a result of a natural disaster." The measure includes keeping the data collected for registry confidential, with disclosure of personal information only being made available to assist the patient during a natural disaster or other medical emergency. If unlawfully disclosed, perpetrators could be fined up to $500 and/or imprisoned for one year. According to language found in the bill, the data is to be maintained for persons 60 years and older who live alone, and also persons with disabilities who live alone. “Implementation of a more comprehensive registry would provid...