Thursday, May 2, 2013

NY: UAGPPJA Bill Would Ease Guardianship of Out of State Elderly Relatives

The AARP is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would make it easier and cheaper for New Yorkers to care for elderly relatives located in another state.
Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-Nassau County, said during a news conference Tuesday that the bill would simplify the process for individuals who act as legal guardians to family members across state lines.
The Senate passed the bill later in the day.
“Right now, if somebody has a guardianship and goes to another state, you have to go through the process all over again,” said Hannon, who is also chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “It’s the same as if you come in to New York or if you go to another state.”
New York would become the 37th state to adopt the measure. Current law dictates that state residents comply with other states’ court systems for elderly care.
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, D-Brooklyn, said New Yorkers often move to another state while their parents remain home, needing help with health-care management.
“It allows the guardianship to travel with the individual instead of a new procedure having to be started,” Weinstein said. “It is one of these proposals that makes so much common sense, you kind of wonder why we haven’t had this in place before.
AARP said it is pushing the measure nationwide in order to create a uniform standard that allows individuals to file a registration form in other states where their relatives live.
AARP said the person’s home state would have primary jurisdiction.

Full Article and Source:

Bill Would Ease Guardianship of Out of State Elderly Relatives

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is not a good law and I'm sorry to see any state pass it.

Diane said...

I contacted Senator Kemp Hannon's office while my mother was locked up in the nursing home. My mother spoke with his staff and even wrote a letter, as his office staff requested, giving them authorization to look into the matter. She died while waiting for his help. They did nothing.