LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Ruth Johnson and Sen. Jim Runestad will hold a press conference on Tuesday, April 4 regarding guardianship and conservatorship reform legislation being introduced in the Michigan Senate to help prevent elder abuse and exploitation.
Who:
Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly.
Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.
Victims of guardianship abuse.
What:
A press conference to discuss guardianship and conservatorship reform legislation being introduced in the Michigan Senate following the explosive investigative report published by The Detroit News exposing abuses and weaknesses in Michigan’s current system.
When:
Tuesday, April 4, at 10 a.m.
Where:
Parks and Recreation Building
Room 111
26000 Evergreen Road
Southfield
Note:
Johnson and Runestad have announced bipartisan measures to incorporate recommendations from Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Elder Abuse Task Force and address issues raised in The Detroit News’ report. The bills would require courts to obtain a physician or mental health professional’s assessment of an individual prior to appointing a guardian and would require judges to explain, on the record, the specific reasons when appointing an unrelated professional guardian rather than a family member to oversee an individual’s care.
Under the bills, professional guardians would be required to be certified, the number of individuals who could be placed under the care of a single professional guardian or conservator would be limited, someone who has been removed as a public administrator by the attorney general for cause would be banned from being appointed as a professional guardian or conservator, and courts would need to make video recordings of public court proceedings available to the public.
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