By:  Talton                                           H.B. No. 2346
       73R5380 NSC-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the closing of the guardianship of the estate of a
    1-3  minor ward.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 404, Texas Probate Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
    1-7        (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2) of this section, the
    1-8  guardianship of the estate of a minor ward may be extended for a
    1-9  period of not more than seven years after the ward becomes an
   1-10  adult.  The court, on its own motion, or on an application filed
   1-11  with the court by the guardian of the estate of a minor ward after
   1-12  the 17th birthday of the ward, shall conduct a hearing not earlier
   1-13  than six months before the 18th birthday of the minor ward to
   1-14  determine whether to extend the guardianship.  If the court finds,
   1-15  for good cause shown, that the ward will not be mature enough to
   1-16  manage the ward's estate after the ward becomes 18 years of age,
   1-17  the court may order the extension of the guardianship of the estate
   1-18  of the ward for a period of not more than seven years after the
   1-19  ward's 18th birthday.  The guardianship of the estate of the ward
   1-20  shall be settled and closed if during the period of the extended
   1-21  guardianship the court finds that the ward is competent to manage
   1-22  the ward's estate or the ward is married.
   1-23        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-24  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-4  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-5  passage, and it is so enacted.