Elder abuse: protective orders.

Existing law authorizes a court to issue a protective order to restrain any person for the purpose of preventing the abuse of an elder or dependent adult. Under existing law, certain persons are authorized to file a petition for these protective orders on behalf of the elder or dependent adult, including a conservator or trustee, an attorney-in-fact, a person appointed as a guardian ad litem, or other person legally authorized to seek the order. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2016, additionally authorize a county adult protective services agency to file a petition for a protective order on behalf of an elder or dependent adult who has suffered abuse and has an impaired ability to appreciate and understand the circumstances that place him or her at risk of harm, or who has provided written authorization for the agency to act on his or her behalf. The bill would impose specified requirements on an adult protective services agency that files the petition, including, among others, assisting the elder or dependent adult to attend the hearing and, if a petition to appoint a conservator has not already been filed, referring the elder or dependent adult to the public guardian, as specified. The bill would also recast and clarify the definition of "abuse of an elder or a dependent adult." This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, proposed by AB 494 and AB 1081, that would become operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are chaptered and become effective January 1, 2016, and this bill is chaptered last.