CALIFORNIA — The state of California is taking another step toward preventing elder abuse. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Tuesday.

Inspired by the abandonment of seniors at two Santa Rosa assisted living centers during the 2017 wildfires. The law will add "abandonment" to the list of offenses eligible for enhanced civil remedies under the elder abuse and dependent adult civil protection act.

There are an estimated 176,000 cases of reported elder and dependent adult abuse per year in California. And last year over 4,000 reports came from Kern County alone