Text: HSB00659                          Text: HSB00661
Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699               Text: HSB Index
Bills and Amendments: General Index     Bill History: General Index



House Study Bill 660

Bill Text

PAG LIN
  1  1    Section 1.  Section 235B.1, subsection 4, paragraph a,
  1  2 subparagraph (1), Code 2003, is amended to read as follows:
  1  3    (1)  Advise the director of human services and the
  1  4 administrator of the division of child and family services of
  1  5 the department of human services regarding departments charged
  1  6 with the responsibility of addressing dependent adult abuse.
  1  7    Sec. 2.  Section 235B.2, subsection 4, Code 2003, is
  1  8 amended to read as follows:
  1  9    4.  "Dependent adult" means a person eighteen years of age
  1 10 or older who is unable to protect the person's own interests
  1 11 or unable to adequately perform or obtain services necessary
  1 12 to meet essential human needs, as a result of a physical or
  1 13 mental condition which requires assistance from another, or a
  1 14 person eighteen years of age or older who is certified for
  1 15 residency in a health care facility pursuant to chapter 135C,
  1 16 or as defined by departmental rule.
  1 17    Sec. 3.  Section 235B.3, subsection 2, Code Supplement
  1 18 2003, is amended to read as follows:
  1 19    2.  All of the following persons shall report suspected
  1 20 dependent adult abuse to the department:
  1 21    a.  A social worker.
  1 22    b.  A certified psychologist.
  1 23    c. a.  A person who, in the course of employment, examines,
  1 24 attends, counsels, or treats a dependent adult and reasonably
  1 25 believes the dependent adult has suffered abuse, including:
  1 26    (1)  A member of the staff of a community mental health
  1 27 center, a member of the staff of a hospital, a member of the
  1 28 staff or employee of a public or private health care facility
  1 29 as defined in section 135C.1.
  1 30    (2)  A peace officer.
  1 31    (3)  An in-home homemaker-home health aide.
  1 32    (4)  An individual employed as an outreach person.
  1 33    (5)  A health practitioner, as defined in section 232.68.
  1 34    (6)  A member of the staff or an employee of a supported
  1 35 community living service, sheltered workshop, or work activity
  2  1 center.
  2  2    (7)  A social worker.
  2  3    (8)  A certified psychologist.
  2  4    d.  A person who performs inspections of elder group homes
  2  5 for the department of inspections and appeals and a resident
  2  6 advocate committee member assigned to an elder group home
  2  7 pursuant to chapter 231B.
  2  8    b.  A licensed funeral director.
  2  9    Sec. 4.  Section 235B.3, Code Supplement 2003, is amended
  2 10 by adding the following new subsection:
  2 11    NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  An employee of a financial
  2 12 institution may report cases of suspected financial
  2 13 exploitation of a dependent adult to the department.
  2 14    Sec. 5.  Section 235B.18, subsection 1, Code 2003, is
  2 15 amended to read as follows:
  2 16    1.  If the department reasonably determines that a
  2 17 dependent adult is a victim of dependent adult abuse and lacks
  2 18 capacity to consent to the receipt of protective services, the
  2 19 department may petition the district court in the county in
  2 20 which the dependent adult resides for an order authorizing the
  2 21 provision of protective services.  The petition shall allege
  2 22 specific facts sufficient to demonstrate that the dependent
  2 23 adult is in need of protective services and lacks capacity to
  2 24 consent to the receipt of services.
  2 25    Sec. 6.  Section 235B.19, subsection 1, Code 2003, is
  2 26 amended to read as follows:
  2 27    1.  If the department determines that a dependent adult is
  2 28 suffering from dependent adult abuse which presents an
  2 29 immediate danger to the health or safety of the dependent
  2 30 adult, that the dependent adult lacks capacity to consent to
  2 31 receive protective services, and that no consent can be
  2 32 obtained, the department may petition the district court with
  2 33 probate jurisdiction in the county in which the dependent
  2 34 adult resides for an emergency order authorizing protective
  2 35 services.
  3  1    Sec. 7.  Section 235B.19, subsection 6, unnumbered
  3  2 paragraph 1, Code 2003, is amended to read as follows:
  3  3    The department, upon finding that dependent adult abuse has
  3  4 occurred and is either ongoing or is likely to reoccur, may
  3  5 petition the district court in the county in which the
  3  6 dependent adult resides for injunctive relief against the
  3  7 alleged perpetrator.  The petition shall conform to the
  3  8 requirements of subsection 2 and shall specify the relief
  3  9 sought.  Upon finding that dependent adult abuse has occurred
  3 10 and that the abuse is either ongoing or likely to reoccur, the
  3 11 court may also enter temporary orders as may be appropriate to
  3 12 third persons enjoining them from specific conduct.  The
  3 13 orders may include temporary restraining orders which impose
  3 14 criminal sanctions if violated.  In instances of self-denial
  3 15 of critical care, the court may enter temporary orders
  3 16 authorizing the provision of support services to the dependent
  3 17 adult.  Temporary orders entered pursuant to this subsection
  3 18 shall remain in effect for a period of thirty days from the
  3 19 date of entry unless extended for good cause.  Third parties
  3 20 enjoined under this subsection shall be provided notice of the
  3 21 court order in accordance with court rules.  The court may
  3 22 enjoin third persons from any of the following:
  3 23    Sec. 8.  NEW SECTION.  726.9  DEPENDENT ADULT ENDANGERMENT.
  3 24    1.  A caretaker commits dependent adult endangerment when
  3 25 the caretaker through willful or negligent acts or omissions
  3 26 does any of the following:
  3 27    a.  Creates a substantial risk to a dependent adult's
  3 28 physical, mental, or emotional health or safety.
  3 29    b.  Uses unreasonable force, torture, or cruelty that
  3 30 results in bodily injury, or that is intended to cause serious
  3 31 injury.
  3 32    c.  Causes bodily injury to, unreasonably confines,
  3 33 unreasonably punishes, or assaults a dependent adult.
  3 34    d.  Evidences unreasonable force, torture, or cruelty that
  3 35 causes substantial mental or emotional harm to a dependent
  4  1 adult.
  4  2    e.  Deprives a dependent adult of necessary food, clothing,
  4  3 shelter, health care, or supervision when the person is
  4  4 reasonably able to make the necessary provisions and which
  4  5 deprivation substantially harms the dependent adult.
  4  6    f.  Permits the continuing physical or sexual abuse of a
  4  7 dependent adult.
  4  8    g.  With or against a dependent adult, commits a sexual
  4  9 offense under chapter 709 or section 726.2.
  4 10    h.  Abandons the dependent adult to fend for the dependent
  4 11 adult's own self, knowing that the dependent adult is unable
  4 12 to do so.
  4 13    i.  Exploits the dependent adult by the act or process of
  4 14 taking financial resources or property from the dependent
  4 15 adult without the informed consent of the dependent adult,
  4 16 including by theft, undue influence, harassment, duress,
  4 17 deception, false representation, or false pretense.
  4 18    2.  A caretaker who intentionally commits dependent adult
  4 19 endangerment resulting in serious or bodily injury to a
  4 20 dependent adult is guilty of a class "C" felony.
  4 21    3.  A caretaker who recklessly commits dependent adult
  4 22 endangerment resulting in serious or bodily injury to a
  4 23 dependent adult is guilty of a class "D" felony.
  4 24    4.  A caretaker who commits dependent adult endangerment
  4 25 not resulting in serious or bodily injury to a dependent adult
  4 26 is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
  4 27    5.  A caretaker who commits dependent adult endangerment by
  4 28 exploiting a dependent adult by the act or process of taking
  4 29 financial resources or property without the informed consent
  4 30 of the dependent adult is guilty of a class "D" felony.
  4 31    6.  A caretaker alleged to have committed a violation of
  4 32 this section shall be charged with the respective offense
  4 33 cited, unless a charge may be brought based upon a more
  4 34 serious offense, in which case the charge of the more serious
  4 35 offense shall supercede the less serious charge.
  5  1    7.  For the purposes of this section, "dependent adult"
  5  2 means dependent adult as defined in section 235B.2 and
  5  3 "caretaker" means a caretaker as defined in section 235B.2.
  5  4    Sec. 9.  Section 235B.20, Code 2003, is repealed.  
  5  5                           EXPLANATION
  5  6    This bill relates to dependent adult abuse.
  5  7    The bill provides that the dependent adult abuse advisory
  5  8 council is to advise not only the director of human services
  5  9 and the administrator of the division of child and family
  5 10 services regarding dependent adult abuse, but is to advise the
  5 11 departments charged with addressing dependent adult abuse.
  5 12    The bill defines "dependent adult" to include a person 18
  5 13 years of age or older who is certified for residency in a
  5 14 health care facility or as defined by departmental rule.
  5 15    The bill specifies that the persons who are required to
  5 16 report suspected dependent adult abuse do not include all
  5 17 social workers and certified psychologists, but only those
  5 18 social workers and certified psychologists who, in the course
  5 19 of employment, examine, attend, counsel, or treat a dependent
  5 20 adult and who reasonably believe the dependent adult has
  5 21 suffered abuse.  The bill eliminates persons who perform
  5 22 inspections of elder group homes and resident advocate
  5 23 committee members assigned to elder group homes from the list
  5 24 of persons required to report suspected dependent adult abuse.
  5 25 The bill adds licensed funeral directors to this list.  In
  5 26 addition, the bill specifies that an employee of a financial
  5 27 institution may report cases of suspected financial
  5 28 exploitation to the department of human services.
  5 29    The bill specifies that a petition for an order authorizing
  5 30 the provision of protective services or authorizing an
  5 31 emergency order for protective services is to be filed with
  5 32 the district court in the county in which the dependent adult
  5 33 resides.  The bill also provides that if the department of
  5 34 human services finds that dependent adult abuse has occurred
  5 35 and is ongoing or likely to reoccur, the department may
  6  1 petition the court for injunctive relief against the alleged
  6  2 perpetrator and directs that the court may enter temporary
  6  3 orders as appropriate.  The bill eliminates the court's
  6  4 discretion to include temporary restraining orders which
  6  5 impose criminal sanctions.  The bill also provides that if the
  6  6 court enters a temporary order, the order remains in effect
  6  7 for 30 days unless extended for good cause.  Third parties
  6  8 enjoined under these provisions are to be provided notice of
  6  9 the court order in accordance with court rules.
  6 10    The bill eliminates a provision in Code chapter 235B
  6 11 relating to initiation of charges and penalties for dependent
  6 12 adult abuse, modifies the provision, and relocates it in Code
  6 13 chapter 726 (protection of the family and dependent persons),
  6 14 which is located in the criminal law portion of the Code.
  6 15 This provision has been retitled "dependent adult
  6 16 endangerment".
  6 17    Under current law in Code section 235B.20, a caretaker who
  6 18 intentionally commits dependent adult abuse that results in
  6 19 serious injury to the dependent adult is guilty of a class "C"
  6 20 felony and if the abuse was committed in a reckless manner,
  6 21 the person is guilty of a class "D" felony.  Under current
  6 22 provisions, a caretaker who intentionally commits dependent
  6 23 adult abuse that results in physical injury is guilty of a
  6 24 class "C" felony and if the abuse was committed in a reckless
  6 25 manner, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
  6 26 Additionally, under current provisions, if a caretaker
  6 27 exploits a dependent adult, and the value of the property,
  6 28 assets or resources exceeds $100, the person is guilty of a
  6 29 class "D" felony, and if the value is $100 or less, the person
  6 30 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
  6 31    Under the bill, a caretaker who commits dependent adult
  6 32 endangerment is subject to criminal penalties.  Under the
  6 33 bill, a caretaker commits dependent adult endangerment if the
  6 34 caretaker through willful or negligent acts or omissions does
  6 35 any of the following:
  7  1    1.  Creates a substantial risk to a dependent adult's
  7  2 physical, mental, or emotional health or safety.
  7  3    2.  Uses unreasonable force, torture, or cruelty that
  7  4 results in bodily injury, or that is intended to cause serious
  7  5 injury.
  7  6    3.  Causes bodily injury to, unreasonably confines,
  7  7 unreasonably punishes, or assaults a dependent adult.
  7  8    4.  Evidences unreasonable force, torture, or cruelty, that
  7  9 causes substantial mental or emotional harm to a dependent
  7 10 adult.
  7 11    5.  Deprives a dependent adult of necessary food, clothing,
  7 12 shelter, health care, or supervision when the caretaker is
  7 13 reasonably able to make the necessary provisions and which
  7 14 deprivation substantially harms the dependent adult.
  7 15    6.  Permits the continuing physical or sexual abuse of a
  7 16 dependent adult.
  7 17    7.  With or against a dependent adult commits a sexual
  7 18 offense under Code chapter 709 or Code section 726.2.
  7 19    8.  Abandons the dependent adult to fend for the dependent
  7 20 adult's own self, knowing that the dependent adult is unable
  7 21 to do so.
  7 22    9.  Exploits a dependent adult by the act or process of
  7 23 taking financial resources or property from the dependent
  7 24 adult without the informed consent of the dependent adult,
  7 25 including by theft, undue influence, harassment, duress,
  7 26 deception, false representation, or false pretense.
  7 27    The bill provides that if a caretaker intentionally commits
  7 28 dependent adult endangerment that results in serious or bodily
  7 29 injury, the person is guilty of a class "C" felony, and if the
  7 30 endangerment was committed in a reckless manner, the person is
  7 31 guilty of a class "D" felony.  If a person commits dependent
  7 32 adult endangerment that does not result in serious or bodily
  7 33 injury to a dependent adult, the person is guilty of an
  7 34 aggravated misdemeanor.  A person who exploits a dependent
  7 35 adult is guilty of a class "D" felony.  
  8  1 LSB 5110DP 80
  8  2 rh/pj/5
     

Text: HSB00659                          Text: HSB00661
Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699               Text: HSB Index
Bills and Amendments: General Index     Bill History: General Index

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