SRC-JFA S.B. 586 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 586
By: Moncrief
State Affairs
2-18-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, local guardianship programs in certain areas of the state have
successfully recruited volunteers to become guardians and protect the
interest of mentally incapacitated adults in Texas. Many mentally
incapacitated adults in Texas have no one to serve as their guardian and
take responsibility for important life decisions since certain areas of
the state are without such programs. This bill would create and establish
guidelines for the Guardianship Advisory Board to encourage the
establishment of local guardianship centers in those areas of the state in
which they do not exist. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 586 sets forth the creation and guidelines of the
Guardianship Advisory Board and the establishment of local guardianship
centers.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the presiding judge of the statutory
probate courts in SECTION 1 (Section 531.122(e), Government Code) and to
the Health & Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 531.124(a),
Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Subchapter D, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER D.  LOCAL GUARDIANSHIP CENTERS;
GUARDIANSHIP ADVISORY BOARD

Sec. 531.121.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "advisory board," "council,"
"guardian," "guardianship program," "incapacitated individual," "local
guardianship center," "private professional guardian," and "statutory
probate court."   

Sec. 531.122.  ADVISORY BOARD; MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES.  Requires the
Guardianship Advisory Board (board) to advise the Health & Human Services
Commission (commission) in adopting standards under Section 531.124 and in
administrating the commission's  duties under this subchapter other than
Sections 531.126(a) and (b).  Sets forth the composition of the board.
Requires a statutory probate court judge to appoint an individual to the
board who has demonstrated experience working with a guardianship program,
an organization that advocates on behalf of or in the interest of elderly
individuals or individuals with mental illness or mental retardation, or
incapacitated individuals. Provides that a member of the board serves at
the pleasure of the statutory probate court judge who appointed the member
or the judge's successor.  Authorizes the presiding judge of the statutory
probate courts to adopt rules as necessary for operation of the advisory
board. Provides that Articles 6252-33(2) and (8), V.T.C.S., do not apply
to the advisory board.   

Sec. 531.123.  ADVISORY BOARD; OFFICERS AND MEETINGS.  Requires the board
to elect from its members a presiding officer and other officers
considered necessary. Requires the board to hold meetings quarterly and
authorizes additional meetings at the call of the presiding officer.
Requires the board to develop and implement policies to provide the public
with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the member and to speak on
any  issue under the jurisdiction of the board.   

Sec. 531.124.  ADOPTION OF STANDARDS.  Requires the commission to adopt
certain minimum standards with the advice of the advisory board.  Requires
the commission to design the minimum standards to protect the interests of
an incapacitated individual or other individual who needs assistance
making decisions concerning the individual's own welfare or financial
affairs.  Sets forth the required procedures relating to a statutory
probate judge that must be included in the rules adopted by the
commission.  

Sec. 531.125.  GUARDIANSHIP NETWORK COUNCIL.  Requires the Guardianship
Network Council (council) to advise the commission in establishing local
guardianship centers established under Section 531.126.  Sets forth the
composition of the council. Requires the council to elect from its members
a presiding officer and any other officer considered necessary.  Provides
that a council member serves at the pleasure of the commissioner of health
and human services (commissioner) or the commissioner's successor.
Requires the council to hold meetings quarterly and authorizes the
presiding officer to hold other meetings.  Provides that Article
6252-33(8), V.T.C.S., does not apply to the council. Provides that the
council is abolished and this section expires on the 90th day after the
date on which the commission establishes at least one local guardianship
center in each of the regions under Section 531.126. 

Sec. 531.126.  ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL GUARDIANSHIP CENTERS.  Requires the
commission to establish at least one guardianship center in each of the
uniform regions established under Section 531.024.  Authorizes the
commission to select a guardianship program operating in a region as a
guardianship center for the region.  Requires the commission to consult
and cooperate with the governing body of municipalities, counties, or
nonprofit organizations in each of the regions concerning the development
of or support for a guardianship center.  Requires the commission to
ensure to the extent possible that each incapacitated individual in this
state who needs a guardianship or another less restrictive type of
assistance to make decisions concerning the incapacitated individual's own
welfare or financial affairs receives that assistance.   

Sec. 531.127.  DUTIES OF LOCAL GUARDIANSHIP CENTER.  Sets forth the
required duties, responsibilities, and conditions of a local guardianship
center.  Authorizes a local guardianship center to receive and monitor
complaints relating to the provision of guardianship and related services
through a toll-free number.  Requires a local guardianship center to
observe the rules adopted by the commission under Section 531.124.   

SECTION 2. Amends Section 646, Probate Code, to provide that to be
eligible for appointment as an attorney ad litem, a person must have the
certification required by Section 647A, Texas Probate Code.  Makes
conforming changes.   

SECTION 3. Amends Part 2E, Chapter XIII, Probate Code, by adding Section
647A, as follows:  

Sec. 647A.  CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN ATTORNEYS.  Sets forth
the certification guidelines a person who is licensed to practice law in
this state is required to obtain from the State Bar of Texas in order to
represent a proposed ward or guardian or other interested person at a
hearing to appoint a guardian.   

SECTION 4. Makes application of Sections 646 and 647A, Probate Code, of
this Act prospective.  

SECTION 5. Requires the statutory probate court to appoint the initial
members of the board and the commissioner to appoint the initial members
of the council no later than December 1, 1997.  

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 7. Emergency clause.