An Act relative to fiduciary responsibility

This bill expands the financial liability of individuals who receive assets from nursing home residents to ensure they can pay for care. Specifically, it requires anyone who receives a transfer of assets from a resident that later disqualifies them from Medicaid to reimburse the facility for care costs up to the amount transferred. Additionally, the law holds fiduciaries, such as legal guardians or joint account holders, responsible for paying the resident's required income contribution if they refuse to do so after receiving official notice. Facilities must provide written notice to potential defendants at least 30 to 45 days before filing a lawsuit, and any resulting judgments cannot be enforced while a Medicaid application is still pending. The legislation aims to protect long-term care facilities by creating a direct financial recourse against those who benefit from or manage a resident's funds, without affecting other existing legal rights or the liability of successor fiduciaries for their predecessors' actions.