A key legislative committee has stripped the state budget of $17.4 million earmarked for enhancing oversight of court-appointed conservators.
The decision, which was made in Sacramento, means that the state's probate courts will probably have to find money in their own budgets to implement laws passed in 2006 that require more court supervision of people under conservatorships.
The reforms were signed into law after a Times series exposed theft, abuse and negligence by some professional conservators appointed to look after senior citizens.
The laws require courts to increase the frequency of investigators' visits to people under conservatorship; to make their investigations more thorough; and to conduct more intensive checks of conservators' financial reports that show how they are managing clients' money.
But the courts have never received money to pay for the new requirements. Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed funding intended to help the courts meet the additional costs.
Source:
Budget Conference Committee votes to cut $17.4 million for oversight of conservators
See also:
Postponing Protection for Seniors
Court Work Overload
Good grief!
ReplyDeleteDon't they realize what lack of monitoring means? More rape and plunder!!!
And does anyone realize what that means?
When the assets are all sucked out of the estates (billed out in commissions/fees), the ward - who is in a conservatorship not only in order to protect him/her, but to protect the citizen from that person becoming a public charge - IS PUT ON MEDICAID, AT PUBLIC EXPENSE!
Conservatorship is public-interest law! Too ironic to believe!
This cannot be allowed to continue!