Welf. & Inst. Code, § 15750

(a) The definitions contained in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600) shall govern the construction of this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and for the purposes of investigating or providing services under an adult protective services program pursuant to this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) (A) “Dependent adult” means any person residing in this state between 18 and 59 years of age, inclusive, who resides in this state, and who has a combination of a disability and the inability to protect their own interest, or who has an inability to carry out normal activities to protect their rights, including, but not limited to, persons who have physical or developmental disabilities, or whose physical or mental abilities have diminished because of age.

(B) “Dependent adult” includes any person between 18 and 59 years of age, inclusive, who is admitted as an inpatient to a 24-hour facility, as defined in Sections 1250, 1250.2, and 1250.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) “Elder” means any person residing in this state 60 years of age or older.

(c) Subdivision (b) shall be operative on January 1, 2022.

(d) To the extent that this section has an overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for programs or levels of service mandated by the 2011 Realignment Legislation within the meaning of Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution, it shall apply to local agencies only to the extent that the state provides annual funding for the cost increase. Any program costs that may be incurred by a local agency pursuant to this section that is above the level of funding which has been appropriated in the annual Budget Act shall not require a subvention of funds by the state or otherwise be subject to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.