Senate File 2073 - Introduced



                                       SENATE FILE       
                                       BY  BOLKCOM

                                       (COMPANION TO LSB 5744HH
                                        BY HUSER)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House, Date              
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to the temporary appointment of a conservator for
  2    a dependent adult in an emergency situation.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 5744SS 81
  5 rh/gg/14

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 235B.19, Code Supplement 2005, is
  1  2 amended by adding the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  a.  Notwithstanding section 633.573,
  1  4 upon a finding that there is probable cause to believe that
  1  5 the dependent adult abuse is producing irreparable harm to the
  1  6 physical or financial resources or property of the dependent
  1  7 adult, and that the dependent adult lacks capacity to consent
  1  8 to the receipt of services, the court may order the
  1  9 appointment of a temporary conservator without notice to the
  1 10 dependent adult or the dependent adult's attorney if all of
  1 11 the following conditions are met:
  1 12    (1)  It clearly appears from specific facts shown by
  1 13 affidavit or by the verified petition that immediate and
  1 14 irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the
  1 15 physical or financial resources or property of the dependent
  1 16 adult before the dependent adult or the dependent adult's
  1 17 attorney can be heard in opposition.
  1 18    (2)  The department certifies to the court in writing any
  1 19 efforts the department has made to give the notice or the
  1 20 reasons supporting the claim that notice should not be
  1 21 required.
  1 22    (3)  The department files with the court a request for a
  1 23 hearing on the petition for the appointment of a temporary
  1 24 conservator.
  1 25    (4)  The department certifies that the notice of the
  1 26 petition, order, and all filed reports and affidavits will be
  1 27 sent to the dependent adult by personal service within the
  1 28 time period the court directs but not more than seventy=two
  1 29 hours after entry of the order of appointment.
  1 30    b.  An order of appointment of a temporary conservator
  1 31 entered by the court under paragraph "a" shall expire as
  1 32 prescribed by the court but within a period of not more than
  1 33 thirty days unless extended by the court for good cause.
  1 34    c.  A hearing on the petition for the appointment of a
  1 35 temporary conservator shall be held within the time specified
  2  1 in paragraph "b".  If the department does not proceed with a
  2  2 hearing on the petition, the court, on the motion of any party
  2  3 or on its own motion, may dismiss the petition.
  2  4    Sec. 2.  Section 633.573, Code 2005, is amended to read as
  2  5 follows:
  2  6    633.573  APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY CONSERVATOR.
  2  7    A Except as provided in section 235B.19, a temporary
  2  8 conservator may be appointed but only after a hearing on such
  2  9 notice, and subject to such conditions, as the court shall
  2 10 prescribe.
  2 11                           EXPLANATION
  2 12    This bill relates to the temporary appointment of a
  2 13 conservator for a dependent adult in an emergency situation.
  2 14    The bill provides that upon a finding that there is
  2 15 probable cause to believe that dependent adult abuse is
  2 16 producing irreparable harm to the physical or financial
  2 17 resources or property of the dependent adult, and that the
  2 18 dependent adult lacks capacity to consent to the receipt of
  2 19 services, the court may order the appointment of a temporary
  2 20 conservator without notice to the dependent adult if it
  2 21 clearly appears from specific facts shown by affidavit or by
  2 22 the verified petition that immediate and irreparable injury,
  2 23 loss, or damage will result to the physical or financial
  2 24 resources or property of the dependent adult before the
  2 25 dependent adult or the dependent adult's attorney can be heard
  2 26 in opposition, the department of human services certifies to
  2 27 the court in writing any efforts the department has made to
  2 28 give the notice or the reasons supporting the claim that
  2 29 notice should not be required, the department files with the
  2 30 court a request for a hearing on the petition for the
  2 31 appointment, and the department certifies that the notice of
  2 32 the petition, order, and all filed reports and affidavits will
  2 33 be sent to the dependent adult by personal service within the
  2 34 time period the court directs but not more than 72 hours after
  2 35 entry of the order of appointment.
  3  1    The bill further provides that an order of appointment
  3  2 entered by the court shall expire as prescribed by the court
  3  3 but within 30 days unless extended for good cause and that a
  3  4 hearing on the petition shall be held within the same time
  3  5 period unless the court, on the motion of any party or on its
  3  6 own motion, dismisses the petition.
  3  7 LSB 5744SS 81
  3  8 rh:nh/gg/14