Executive Order 11

Jxrrutilrr i!ll,eparlm:rnl INTHE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITYOFTHE STATE OF IOWA EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER ELEVEN WHEREAS, it is a goal of this Administration to achieve and maintain a fair and equitable workforce environment and quality of life in the State of Iowa; and WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of state government to protect our most vulnerable residents-such as dependent adults with mental retardation-from becoming the targets of predatory actions by others; and WHEREAS, certain persons in Iowa and elsewhere have taken advantage of those who are dependent upon others for their care; and WHEREAS, it is imperative to know whether the mistreatment of dependent adults with mental retardation occurs as isolated incidences or whether it is the result of systemic problems with existing laws, regulations and practices; and WHEREAS, incidences of mistreatment of dependent adults with mental retardation not only adversely affects those persons but also has serious adverse effects on the residents, businesses, economy and quality of life of Iowa and the reputation of our State; and WHEREAS, enforcement efforts to address challenges related to the treatment of dependent adults with mental retardation should be studied and enhanced, to improve the efficient coordination and cooperation between state agencies to address problems related to the care and treatment of these citizens; and WHEREAS, the creation of a Task Force to examine and report on the issues related to dependent adults with mental retardation is an effective method to better understand the magnitude of these practices and to effectuate cooperative solutions to the enforcement of applicable laws. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Chester J. Culver, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power vested in me by the laws and constitution of the State of Iowa, do hereby order as follows: A DEPENDENT ADULT TASK FORCE shall be created. A. Membership. Membership on the Task Force shall include: • The Governor, or the Governor's designee; • The Director of the Department of Elder Affairs or the Director's designee; • The Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, or the Director's designee; • The Director of the Department of Inspections and Appeals, or the Director's designee; • The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, or the Commissioner's designee; • The Labor Commissioner, or the Commissioner's designee; and • The Executive Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, or the Executive Director's designee. The Director of the Department of Elder Affairs or that Director's designee shall serve as Chairperson of the Task Force. B. Duties. The Task Force shall: 1. Review Iowa laws, regulations, policies and procedures related to the care and employment of dependent adults with mental retardation; 2. Engage the assistance and services of state agencies, members of the nonprofit and nongovernmental sector, interested groups and citizens who are not formally named to the Task Force, but who can assist with analysis of and access to data bases and systems that might help detect the existence of unregulated congregate residential settings and non- registered and I or unregulated workplaces where there may exist abuse or neglect of dependent adults with mental retardation; 3. Determine the extent to which dependent adults with mental retardation are residents of or are receiving care in unlicensed facilities; 4. Assess existing methods, both within Iowa and in other jurisdictions, of investigating and initiating enforcement action against persons who neglect, abuse or take advantage of dependent adults with mental retardation; 5. Identify and recommend potential regulatory or statutory changes that would improve prevention and enforcement efforts and systematically address the problem of the mistreatment of dependent adults with mental retardation in the State of Iowa; 6. Develop a plan and a timeline, with input from appropriate stakeholder groups, to redress the problems caused by and prevent the mistreatment of dependent adults with mental retardation through coordinated legal and regulatory changes; and 7. Identify and recommend ways to increase public awareness and education to prevent the mistreatment of dependent adults with mental retardation. C. Final Report. The Task Force shall submit a written report outlining its activities and making recommendations for corrective action to the Governor's Office no later than April 1, 2009. D. Administrative Support. The Department of Elder Affairs shall provide the administrative support necessary to facilitate the work of the Task Force. E. Dissolution. The Task Force shall be dissolved upon submission of its report to the Governor's Office. ATTEST: MICHAEL A. MAURO SECRETARY OF STATE IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of Iowa to be affixed. Done at Des Moines this .fl!day of February, in the year of our Lord tw ousand nine. C ESTER J. CULVER GOVERNOR