New legislation has been proposed to help with elder abuse. Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has announced comprehensive legislation to address abuse of elderly or vulnerable adults in Tennessee. The bills would expand systemic protection for victims of physical, mental or financial abuse and impose severe penalties on those who commit them. The bills come from the Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Task Force. The proposals build on a new law passed by the General Assembly last year, which set up Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Teams (VAPIT) in each judicial district in Tennessee to foster cooperation and information sharing between different government agencies whose purpose is to protect elderly and vulnerable adults.