Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act would help crack down on elder abuse by strengthening oversight and accountability for guardians and conservators
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that their bipartisan legislation to protect
seniors from neglect and financial exploitation has passed the Senate.
The Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act would help crack down on elder abuse by strengthening oversight and accountability for guardians and conservators.
“This bill strengthens support for our nation’s senior citizens
by ensuring they get the court-appointed care they need, while also
protecting them from exploitation and fraud,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m
proud to join Sen. Klobuchar in standing up for enhanced oversight to
ensure this critical program helps, not harms, America’s senior
citizens.”
“While most court-appointed guardians and conservators are
undoubtedly professional, caring, and law-abiding, there are some who
use their position of power to exploit seniors,” Senator Klobuchar said. “This
bipartisan legislation would strengthen oversight and accountability
for those entrusted to with the well-being of seniors, and will protect
those who are most vulnerable.”
Cornyn and Klobuchar’s bipartisan legislation passed as part of the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act. The Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act
makes courts eligible for an already existing program designed to
protect seniors. Under the program, state courts would be able to apply
for funding to assess the handling of proceedings relating to guardians
and conservators, and then make the necessary improvements to their
practices. For example, the courts could conduct background checks on
potential guardians and conservators, or implement an electronic filing
system in order to better monitor and audit conservatorships and
guardianships.
Full Article & Source:
Cornyn, Klobuchar Bill to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation Passes Senate
1 comment:
This is a good start for some Federal oversight on elder abuse.
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