Davis, 29, said she has had limited to no contact with her 39-year-old brother, who has a mild intellectual disability, since her father died in January 2013 and her step-mother became Jim's guardian and shielded him from his family members. She said she lost her brother 28 months ago, "not through death, but through guardianship."
Davis, who sought help from state Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, to get the bill enacted, was on hand in Branstad's formal Capitol office to witness him signing a ground-breaking law that gives family members a new legal avenue to use if they're blocked from seeing a relative who is incapacitated. She is hoping the new law, which takes effect July 1, will help her seek to enforce visitation rights.
"I will go, and I will fight for it," she said. "I'm very stubborn and persistent, so this will happen."
Senate File 306, which addresses communication and visitation rights between an adult ward and another person, is one of the first laws in the nation that would allow relatives to ask a judge to enforce visitation rights.
Also present at Friday's Capitol bill-signing ceremony was Kerri Kasem, daughter of the radio personality Casey Kasem, former host of "America's Top 40." She lobbied for the bill after her late father was moved from his nursing home in California, first to Nevada and then to Washington, without his children's knowledge or consent.
"This is a silent epidemic," she said. "There are so many abuses of guardianships and so many abuses of caretakers."
Full Article and Source:
Branstad Signs Flurry of New Laws
See Also:Gov Terry Branstad Signs Casey Kasem Bill
First of Its Kind Casey Kasem Bill Becomes Law in Iowa
Iowa Law Tries to Ensure Adult Children Can See Sick Parents
Iowa Law Takes on Guardian Wrongdoing
Iowa Law Arising From Kasem Case Ensures Adult Children Can See Sick Parents
6 comments:
We're so proud and happy for you, Misty.
Misty Davis didn't take it sitting down. She got busy and got something wonderful done.
Thanks Misty!
Kerri Casem could have just gone on with her life after her father's death, but she didn't. She's doing this in his memory and it's a wonderful thing.
Wow! Way to go!
I'm not sure why Kerri Casem has taken credit for this bill. Her own bill SF360 was not passed. This was a separate bill created entirely by Misty Davis, AF306. It sailed through with flying colors due to years of hard work by Misty and legislators she approached.
I heard about this signing of this bill on the radio this morning. Interesting comment from Anonymous who is Misty Davis? I do not recall hearing that name during the interview. Anybody know why Ms. Davis was not mentioned as part of this effort or that there were two different bills? I am confused I hope someone will set the record straight and better yet Marilu Henner giving Ms. Davis an opportunity to respond would be in order.
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