The Pennsylvania House, June 3, passed legislation to help protect senior citizens from being taken advantage of by a power of attorney, said State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
The vote was 197-1 with State Rep. Carl Metzgar (R-69) being the dissenter.
House Bill 2007 aims to address situations where a power of attorney fails to comply with the agent’s directives listed throughout the document, said Cox. The legislation would require the official notice that failure to comply could result in criminal charges, eliminating a legal loophole of ignorance.
The legislation also would allow Area Agencies on Aging the ability to seek access to confidential records of a senior through a court order, if they believe that a crime is being committed and the senior lacks the capacity to give consent.
The legislation is now before the Senate.
