(AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is signing legislation that would allow criminal charges to be filed against those who use their influence to take financial advantage of elderly and disabled Missourians.
Nixon on Wednesday was heading to senior centers in Springfield and the St. Louis area.
It already is a crime in Missouri to financially exploit the elderly or disabled through deception, force or intimidation. The new legislation expands that law by making it illegal to use "undue influence" to exploit an elderly or disabled person's pain or state of mind for financial gain. That's aimed partly at improper uses of a power of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship.
Supporters say the new legislation eliminates a gap in Missouri's laws.
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