House File 156 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY FORD Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to dependent adult abuse and providing criminal 2 penalties. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2111HH 81 5 rh/pj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 235B.1, subsection 4, paragraph a, 1 2 subparagraph (1), Code 2005, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 (1) Advise thedirector of human services, the director of 1 4 elder affairs, the director of inspections and appeals, the 1 5 director of public health, the director of the department of 1 6 corrections, and the director of human rights regarding1 7 departments charged with the responsibility of addressing 1 8 dependent adult abuse. 1 9 Sec. 2. Section 235B.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, 1 10 subparagraph (1), unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2005, is 1 11 amended to read as follows: 1 12 Any of the following as a result of the willful or 1 13 negligent acts or omissions of acaretakerperson: 1 14 Sec. 3. Section 235B.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 1 15 2005, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 1 16 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (4) Any mental injury to a dependent 1 17 adult's intellectual or psychological capacity as evidenced by 1 18 an observable and substantial impairment in the dependent 1 19 adult's ability to function within the dependent adult's 1 20 normal range of performance and behavior as the result of the 1 21 acts or omissions of a person, if the impairment is diagnosed 1 22 and confirmed by a licensed physician or qualified mental 1 23 health professional as defined in section 622.10. 1 24 Sec. 4. Section 235B.2, subsection 5, paragraph b, 1 25 subparagraph (2), Code 2005, is amended to read as follows: 1 26 (2) Circumstances in whichthe dependent adult's caretaker1 27 a person, acting in accordance with the dependent adult's 1 28 stated or implied consent, declines medical treatment on 1 29 behalf of the dependent adult if the dependent adult holds a 1 30 belief or is an adherent of a religion whose tenets and 1 31 practices call for reliance on spiritual means in place of 1 32 reliance on medical treatment. 1 33 Sec. 5. Section 235B.20, subsections 2 through 8, Code 1 34 2005, are amended to read as follows: 1 35 2. Acaretakerperson who intentionally commits dependent 2 1 adult abuse on a dependent adult in violation of this chapter 2 2 is guilty of a class "C" felony if the intentional dependent 2 3 adult abuse results in serious injury. 2 4 3. Acaretakerperson who recklessly commits dependent 2 5 adult abuse on a dependent adult in violation of this chapter 2 6 is guilty of a class "D" felony if the reckless dependent 2 7 adult abuse results in serious injury. 2 8 4. Acaretakerperson who intentionally commits dependent 2 9 adult abuse on a dependent adult in violation of this chapter 2 10 is guilty of a class "C" felony if the intentional dependent 2 11 adult abuse results in physical injury. 2 12 5. Acaretakerperson who commits dependent adult abuse by 2 13 exploiting a dependent adult in violation of this chapter is 2 14 guilty of a class "D" felony if the value of the property, 2 15 assets, or resources exceeds one hundred dollars. 2 16 6. Acaretakerperson who recklessly commits dependent 2 17 adult abuse on a person in violation of this chapter is guilty 2 18 of an aggravated misdemeanor if the reckless dependent adult 2 19 abuse results in physical injury. 2 20 7. Acaretakerperson who commits dependent adult abuse by 2 21 exploiting a dependent adult in violation of this chapter is 2 22 guilty of a simple misdemeanor if the value of the property, 2 23 assets, or resources is one hundred dollars or less. 2 24 8. Acaretakerperson alleged to have committed a 2 25 violation of this chapter shall be charged with the respective 2 26 offense cited, unless a charge may be brought based upon a 2 27 more serious offense, in which case the charge of the more 2 28 serious offense shall supersede the less serious charge. 2 29 EXPLANATION 2 30 This bill relates to dependent adult abuse and provides 2 31 criminal penalties. 2 32 The bill provides that the dependent adult abuse advisory 2 33 council is to advise not only the director of human services 2 34 and the administrator of the division of child and family 2 35 services regarding dependent adult abuse, but is to advise the 3 1 departments charged with addressing dependent adult abuse. 3 2 The bill expands the definition of who may commit dependent 3 3 adult abuse to include any person who willfully or negligently 3 4 acts or fails to act in a certain manner in regard to a 3 5 dependent adult. Current law limits such a person to a 3 6 caretaker, defined in Code section 235B.2, as a related or 3 7 nonrelated person who has the responsibility for the 3 8 protection, care, or custody of a dependent adult as a result 3 9 of assuming the responsibility voluntarily, by contract, 3 10 through employment, or by order of the court. 3 11 The bill further expands the definition of dependent adult 3 12 abuse to include any mental injury to a dependent adult's 3 13 intellectual or psychological capacity. 3 14 The bill provides that a person who commits the crime of 3 15 dependent adult abuse commits a class "C" felony, a class "D" 3 16 felony, an aggravated misdemeanor, or a simple misdemeanor, 3 17 depending on the respective offense. A class "C" felony is 3 18 punishable by confinement for no more than 10 years and a fine 3 19 of at least $1,000 but not more than $10,000. A class "D" 3 20 felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five 3 21 years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500. 3 22 An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no 3 23 more than two years and a fine of at least $500 but not more 3 24 than $5,000. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by 3 25 confinement for no more than 30 days or a fine of at least $50 3 26 but not more than $500 or by both. 3 27 LSB 2111HH 81 3 28 rh:rj/pj/5