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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of a successor guardian for certain |
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wards adjudicated as totally incapacitated. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.101, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (f) to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) The department may not be required by a court to file an |
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application for guardianship, and except as provided by Subsection |
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(f) and Section 695(c), Texas Probate Code, the department may not |
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be appointed as permanent guardian for any individual unless the |
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department files an application to serve or otherwise agrees to |
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serve as the individual's guardian of the person or estate, or both. |
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(f) On appointment by a probate court under Section 695(c), |
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Texas Probate Code, the department shall serve as the successor |
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guardian of the person or estate, or both, of a ward described by |
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that section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 695, Texas Probate Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows: |
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(c) The court may appoint the Department of Aging and |
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Disability Services as a successor guardian of the person or |
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estate, or both, of a ward who has been adjudicated as totally |
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incapacitated if: |
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(1) there is no less restrictive alternative to |
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continuation of the guardianship; |
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(2) there is no family member or other suitable |
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person, including a guardianship program, willing and able to serve |
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as the ward's successor guardian; |
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(3) the ward is located more than 100 miles from the |
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court that created the guardianship; |
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(4) the ward has private assets or access to |
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government benefits to pay for the needs of the ward; |
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(5) the department is served with citation and a |
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hearing is held regarding the department's appointment as proposed |
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successor guardian; and |
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(6) the appointment of the department does not violate |
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a limitation imposed by Subsection (d) of this section. |
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(d) The number of appointments under Subsection (c) of this |
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section is subject to an annual limit of 55. The appointments must |
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be distributed equally or as near as equally as possible among the |
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health and human services regions of this state. The Department of |
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Aging and Disability Services at its discretion may establish a |
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different distribution scheme to promote the efficient use and |
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administration of resources. |
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(e) If the Department of Aging and Disability Services is |
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named as a proposed successor guardian in an application in which |
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the department is not the applicant, citation must be issued and |
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served on the department as provided by Section 633(c)(5) of this |
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code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |