7289. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 24, Sec. 179.)

When a person who is a client of a state hospital or developmental center in the State Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental Services has no guardian or conservator of the estate and has money due or owing to him or her, the executive director of the institution of which the person is a client may, during the client’s residence at the institution, collect an amount not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000) of any money so due or owing upon furnishing to the person, representative, officer, body or corporation in possession of or owing any sums, an affidavit executed by the executive director or acting executive director. The affidavit shall contain the name of the institution of which the person is a client, and the statement that the total amount requested pursuant to the affidavit does not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000). Payments from retirement systems and annuity plans which are due or owing to the clients may also be collected by the executive director of the institution of which the person is a client, upon the furnishing of an affidavit executed by the executive director or acting executive director, containing the name of the institution of which the person is a client and the statement that the person is entitled to receive the payments. These sums shall be delivered to the executive director and shall be deposited by him or her in the clients’ personal deposit fund as provided in Section 7281. The receipt of the executive director shall constitute sufficient acquittance for any payment of money made pursuant to this section and shall fully discharge the person, representative, officer, body or corporation from any further liability with reference to the amount of money so paid. The executive director of each institution shall render reports and accounts annually or more often as may be required by the department having jurisdiction over the hospital or the Department of Finance of all moneys of clients deposited in the clients’ personal deposit accounts of the institution.