Senate File 2239 was approved in the Senate on a 48-0 vote and then by the House on a 97-0 vote. It now goes to Gov. Terry Branstad for his signature.
Sen. Mary Jo Wilhelm, D-Cresco, described the bill as a "very, very important first step" in addressing elder abuse. The law defines elderly as age 60, which is consistent with the federal Older Americans Act.
Wilhelm said the civil protective order included in the legislation is one of the recommendations of an state task force on elder abuse that examined the issue for two years, Wilhelm said. She predicted Iowa lawmakers will continue work on the issue in the 2015 session.
In the House, sponsor Chip Baltimore, R-Boone, described the bill as a starting point for further discussion and perhaps more criminal penalties for elder abuse in subsequent legislative sessions.
Full Article & Source:
Iowa Legislature OKs elder abuse bill
4 comments:
Glad to hear they will continue to work, because much more protection is needed - especially from unlawful and abusive guardianships.
Glad to see it in Iowa.
This phrase has me very uncomfortable with the word: protective "created a process for obtaining protective orders for vulnerable older persons who have suffered abuse or might suffer abuse."
What is a protective order? In the world of guardianships I see petitions for guardianship increasing to 'protect' the old person 60 years old is now OLD age folks.
'who have suffered abuse or might suffer abuse'
Or might suffer abuse?
This law might look good to most folks but I am seeing the dark side of Public Guardian Office will need to hire a parade of case managers to handle all the cases for all those OLD PEOPLE who MIGHT SUFFER ABUSE on whose word?
Keep in mind guardianships & conservatorships is all about protecting, the protection industry for profit and / or job security while Public Guardians will be funding their office from the assets of the wards.
Please see the bigger picture and the consequences here before celebrations over Senate Bill 2239.
Under the law, can a person get a protective order against judges, guardians, or other agents of government acting under the color of law?
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