This week a new act called the Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The act was sponsored by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and it's purpose is to help states improve the oversight of conservators and guardians with the intention of preventing people from being harmed physically and financially by their guardians.
However, if this bill were to become law, it does not provide new funding. It only allows states to allocate funds from programs that already exist. One thing it would allow for is a new electronic filing system that would monitor conservatorships and guardians. Despite the lack of new funding, it is still a good step forward and will bring more attention to the issues of financial and physical elder abuse.
The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and was approved by a vote of 15-3. It will now be referred to the full Senate for approval.
Please consult with a professional Attorney for Elder Abuse if you have any questions or concerns regarding someone you may suspect of being a victim of abuse by a guardian or conservator.
*This blog entry was not written by an Attorney and should not be constituted as professional legal advice.