Both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature have passed H.B. 1760, which was signed by the governor on July 1, 2024, becoming Act 40 of 2024.

Act 40 amends 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 88 (which was titled “Slayers” and is retitled “Slayers and Elder Abusers”), as well as several other sections of Title 20, to deny persons convicted of elder abuse the right to any inheritance or other interest passing from the person abused upon his or her death. H.B. 1760 does this by amending the parts of Title 20 dealing with slayers so that they apply to persons convicted of elder abuse.

“Elder abuse” is defined as crimes committed under certain chapters of Title 18 when the victim is 60 years of age or older.

The changes made by H.B. 1760 will take effect 180 days after enactment, which presumably means that it will apply to deaths occurring on or after 180 days after enactment.