AR HB1331

Human development centers must provide an accounting and distribute all funds and property within 30 days after a resident's death to the personal representative, spouse, or named beneficiary in order of priority.

Residents or their court-appointed guardians must complete a beneficiary designation form at admission in the presence of two witnesses, and center licensees, owners, administrators, or representatives cannot be named as beneficiaries.

Funds held in trust must be placed in separate accounts at financial institutions within the state and cannot be represented as center assets on financial statements.

If a resident has no personal representative, spouse, or locatable beneficiary, undisbursed intangible property escheats to the Auditor of State under the Unclaimed Property Act after one year, and tangible property escheats to the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services.

Deceased residents' funds and property must be kept separate from the center's assets and from those of other residents.