Elder abuse penalties win praise

SF 522, which cracks down on elder abuse in Iowa, is winning praise since passing the Iowa Senate on March 9. This bill increases the criminal penalties for crimes against older individuals, some of our most vulnerable citizens. It is now under consideration in the Iowa House.

“This legislation has been discussed for years, so we are pleased to see the Iowa Senate act and pass a bill with broad, bipartisan support for protecting Iowa seniors from elder abuse,” said Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director. “We also thank the many supporting groups including Iowa’s financial institutions, local law enforcement, who are on the front lines of this issue every day and know how important this step is to help older Iowans.”

According to AARP Iowa, the need for this legislation is heightened during the pandemic because so many vulnerable older Iowans remain isolated at home. Elder abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, neglect and financial exploitation — the most prevalent form. National studies show that 90% of perpetrators are known to their victims, and only one in 44 cases are reported.

Stronger protections for dependent adults

SF 450, which passed the Iowa Senate March 17, makes a caretaker guilty of second-degree murder if they intentionally or recklessly cause the death of a dependent adult.

Coupled with a new initiative at the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), this bill is a step toward better protections for dependent adults.

DHS staff who work in adult protective services require extensive specialized knowledge. In the coming months, the department will strengthen services for dependent adults by training a portion of its protective services staff to work specifically on adult protective cases.

Getting tough on child predators

SF 572, the Hidden Predators Act, recently passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would fix Iowa’s worst-in-the-nation laws that fail to hold accountable many child sex predators.

According to ChildUSA, Iowa is one of only eight states that still needs to eliminate the statute of limitations for going after child sex abusers. The organization is calling on the Legislature to ensure victims get access justice by passing SF 572.

Under the bill, future victims in Iowa will have all the time they need to bring a claim, and adult survivors of child sex abuse would have three years from the bill’s passage to bring claims. Under Iowa’s current law, most victims of child sexual abuse have no way of pursuing justice because the deadline for legal action expires long before they are ready or able to come forward.

State Senator Kevin Kinney represents Iowa Senate District 39, which includes Keokuk County and much of Washington and Johnson counties. Contact him at 319-631-4667. E-mail him at kevin.kinney@legis.iowa.gov.