On September 10, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee approved an amended version of S. 1070, the “Elder Justice Act of 2008.”  The legislation includes a number of provisions aimed at protecting residents of nursing facilities, including a requirement that crimes occurring in federally-funded long-term care facilities be reported to law enforcement agencies; increased funding for training of long-term care ombudsmen and surveyors investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of property in long-term care facilities; notification and planning requirements in the event of an impending nursing facility closure; and incentives for individuals to train for employment as direct care providers in long-term care facilities. The panel also approved an amended version of S. 1577, the “Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2008,” which would, among other things, expand requirements for background checks employees of long-term care facilities with direct patient access. Separately, on September 11, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved S. 2838, the “Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act”; which would render unenforceable pre-dispute arbitration agreements between long-term care facilities and residents. The House Judiciary Committee approved its version of the measure, H.R. 6126, on July 30, 2008