House File 69HOUSE FILE BY HUNTER, WESSEL=KROESCHELL, FOEGE, KUHN, LENSING, SWAIM, and D. TAYLOR Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the definition of dependent adult abuse and 2 making penalties applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1747HH 82 5 rh/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 235B.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 1 2 2007, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 1 3 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (4) The act or process of taking unfair 1 4 advantage of a dependent adult by using physical force or by 1 5 repeatedly using verbal insults or taunts. 1 6 EXPLANATION 1 7 This bill expands the definition of "dependent adult abuse" 1 8 to include the act or process of taking unfair advantage of a 1 9 dependent adult by using physical force or by repeatedly using 1 10 verbal insults or taunts by a caretaker of a dependent adult. 1 11 A caretaker who commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a 1 12 simple or aggravated misdemeanor or a class "C" or "D" felony 1 13 depending on whether the caretaker committed the dependent 1 14 adult abuse recklessly or intentionally and depending on the 1 15 resulting physical or financial injury to the dependent adult. 1 16 LSB 1747HH 82 1 17 rh:nh/je/5