The bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday would expand the ability of prosecutors to apply the state's exploitation law.
The measure stems from a Hardin County case in which a caregiver was caught stealing painkillers prescribed to a man fighting cancer.
Rep. Jim DuPlessis says because the suspect was hired to care for the man's wife, the exploitation law didn't apply. As a result, he says the caregiver received a less severe punishment.
The bill seeks to remedy such situations by allowing the exploitation law to apply to other vulnerable people in the home.
