By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1783
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to guardianships, alternatives to guardianship, and
  supports and services for incapacitated persons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1023.001, Estates Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise authorized by this section, a
  proceeding for the appointment of a guardian for the person or
  estate, or both, of an incapacitated person shall be brought in the
  county in which the proposed ward resides or is located on the date
  the application is filed.
         (a-1)  A proceeding for the appointment of a guardian for the
  estate of an incapacitated person may be brought [or] in the county
  in which the principal estate of the proposed ward is located.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1023.005, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1023.005.  COURT ACTION. (a)  On hearing an
  application or motion under Section 1023.003, if [good cause is not
  shown to deny the transfer and] it appears that transfer of the
  guardianship is in the best interests of the ward and either the
  ward has resided in the county to which the guardianship is to be
  transferred for at least six months or good cause is not otherwise
  shown to deny the transfer, the court shall enter an order:
               (1)  authorizing the transfer on payment on behalf of
  the estate of all accrued costs; and
               (2)  requiring that any existing bond of the guardian
  must remain in effect until a new bond has been given or a rider has
  been filed in accordance with Section 1023.010.
         (b)  In making a determination that the transfer is in the
  best interests of the ward under Subsection (a), the court may
  consider:
               (1)  the interests of justice;
               (2)  the convenience of the parties; and
               (3)  the preference of the ward, if the ward is 12 years
  of age or older.
         (c)  If the ward resides in the county to which a
  guardianship is transferred under Subsection (a), the county shall
  accept the transfer of the guardianship.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1023.008, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1023.008.  CONTINUATION OF GUARDIANSHIP. (a)  When a
  guardianship is transferred from one county to another in
  accordance with this chapter:
               (1)  [,] the guardianship proceeds in the court to
  which it was transferred as if it had been originally commenced in
  that court;
               (2)  the court to which the guardianship is transferred
  becomes the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction;
               (3)  a proceeding relating to the guardianship that is
  commenced in the court ordering the transfer continues in the court
  to which the guardianship is transferred as if the proceeding
  commenced in the receiving court;
               (4)  a judgment or order entered in the guardianship
  before the transfer has the same effect and must be enforced as a
  judgment or order entered by the court to which the guardianship is
  transferred; and
               (5)  the court ordering the transfer does not retain:
                     (A)  jurisdiction of the ward who is the subject
  of the guardianship; and
                     (B)  the authority to enforce an order entered for
  a violation of this title that occurred before or after the
  transfer.
         (b)  It is not necessary to record in the receiving court any
  of the papers in the case that were recorded in the court from which
  the case was transferred.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 1023, Estates Code, is amended by adding
  Section 1023.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1023.011.  NO LIABILITY OF JUDGE. A judge who transfers
  a guardianship to another county shall certify in the transfer
  order that the guardianship is in compliance with the Texas Estates
  Code at the time of transfer.  When a guardianship is transferred
  from one county to another in accordance with this chapter, a judge
  of the court from which the guardianship is transferred may not be
  held civilly liable for any injury, damage, or loss to the ward or
  the ward's estate that occurs after the transfer. A judge of the
  court to which the guardianship is transferred may not be held
  civilly liable for any injury, damage, or loss to the ward or the
  ward's estate that occurred prior to the transfer.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1055, Estates Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D.  MEDIATION
         Sec. 1055.151.  MEDIATION OF [CONTESTED] GUARDIANSHIP
  PROCEEDING. (a)  [On the written agreement of the parties or on the
  court's own motion, the court may refer a contested guardianship
  proceeding to mediation.] A court upon its own motion may refer a
  matter to mediation at any time after the filing of an application
  for guardianship before a final hearing or jury trial. The court
  shall refer the matter to mediation if such request is made by:
               (1)  the proposed ward;
               (2)  an attorney ad litem appointed for the proposed
  ward under Section 1054.001;
               (3)  a guardian ad litem appointed for the proposed
  ward under Section 1054.051;
               (4)  a family member of the proposed ward who has
  entered an appearance in the matter or that family member's
  attorney;
               (5)  a private professional guardian, friend of the
  proposed ward, or other person who filed the application for
  guardianship and who is not a family member of the proposed ward; or
               (6)  a guardianship program that filed the application
  requesting to be appointed guardian.
         A court may also require named individuals: ward, guardian,
  attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, family, and others to
  participate in an annual mediation to assist the court in
  determining the need for continuing a guardianship, or use of
  lesser restrictive alternatives.
         (b)  Capacity of the proposed ward shall not be an issue to be
  mediated and must still be proved to the Court in accordance with
  Texas Estates Code Chapter 1101.  Additionally, all parties shall
  evaluate available alternatives to guardianship and supports and
  services at the mediation in accordance with Texas Estates Code
  Sections 1101.010(a)(1)(D) through (a)(1)(E) and whether the
  supports and services and alternatives to guardianship would be
  feasible to avoid the need for a guardianship.
         (c)  All mediations under this Section shall be conducted by
  individuals who: 
               (1)  have been approved by the Court and 
               (2)  have completed a specialized 24 hour guardianship
  mediation training course conducted by an alternative dispute
  resolution system or an organization approved by the Office of
  Court Administration, in addition to addition to satisfying the
  requirements set forth in Chapter 154.052, Texas Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code. 
         (d)  The cost of mediation shall be paid by the parties
  unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If the parties are unable to
  pay the cost of mediation, the cost of mediation shall be borne by
  the ADR fund established under 152.004 or Section 152.006 of the
  Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. 
         Sec. 1055.152.  MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS. (a)  A
  mediated settlement agreement is binding on the parties if the
  agreement:
               (1)  provides, in a prominently displayed statement
  that is in boldfaced type, in capital letters, or underlined, that
  the agreement is not subject to revocation by the parties and that
  the parties agree the settlement agreement is in the best interest
  of the Ward.
               (2)  is signed by each party to the agreement; and
               (3)  is signed by the party's attorney, if any, who is
  present at the time the agreement is signed.
         (b) [(c)]  If a mediated settlement agreement meets the
  requirements of this section, a party is entitled to judgment on the
  mediated settlement agreement notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules
  of Civil Procedure, or another rule or law.
         (c) [(d)]  Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b) [and
  (c)], a court may decline to enter a judgment on a mediated
  settlement agreement if the court finds that the agreement is not in
  the ward's or proposed ward's best interests.
         Sec. 1055.153.  MEDIATION PROJECT. (a)  For the purposes of
  this section, a probate court is considered a mental health court
  under Chapter 125, Government Code.
         (b)  A probate court may:
               (1)  apply for a public or private grant to fund a
  mediation project in connection with a guardianship proceeding; or
               (2)  participate in a national or state mediation
  project to study the effects of mediation on promoting the least
  restrictive alternatives to guardianship for incapacitated
  persons.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 6.  Section 1101.001(b), Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The application must be sworn to by the applicant and
  state:
               (1)  the proposed ward's name, sex, date of birth, and
  address;
               (2)  the name, relationship, and address of the person
  the applicant seeks to have appointed as guardian;
               (3)  whether guardianship of the person or estate, or
  both, is sought;
               (3-a)  whether alternatives to guardianship and
  available supports and services to avoid guardianship were
  considered;
               (3-b)  whether any alternatives to guardianship and
  supports and services available to the proposed ward considered are
  feasible and would avoid the need for a guardianship;
               (3-c)  whether mediation was considered or encouraged
  to avoid the need for guardianship;
               (4)  the nature and degree of the alleged incapacity,
  the specific areas of protection and assistance requested, and the
  limitation or termination of rights requested to be included in the
  court's order of appointment, including a termination of:
                     (A)  the right of a proposed ward who is 18 years
  of age or older to vote in a public election;
                     (B)  the proposed ward's eligibility to hold or
  obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle under Chapter 521,
  Transportation Code; and
                     (C)  the right of a proposed ward to make personal
  decisions regarding residence;
               (5)  the facts requiring the appointment of a guardian;
               (6)  the interest of the applicant in the appointment
  of a guardian;
               (7)  the nature and description of any kind of
  guardianship existing for the proposed ward in any other state;
               (8)  the name and address of any person or institution
  having the care and custody of the proposed ward;
               (9)  the approximate value and description of the
  proposed ward's property, including any compensation, pension,
  insurance, or allowance to which the proposed ward may be entitled;
               (10)  the name and address of any person whom the
  applicant knows to hold a power of attorney signed by the proposed
  ward and a description of the type of power of attorney;
               (11)  for a proposed ward who is a minor, the following
  information if known by the applicant:
                     (A)  the name of each of the proposed ward's
  parents and either the parent's address or that the parent is
  deceased;
                     (B)  the name and age of each of the proposed
  ward's siblings, if any, and either the sibling's address or that
  the sibling is deceased; and
                     (C)  if each of the proposed ward's parents and
  adult siblings are deceased, the names and addresses of the
  proposed ward's other living relatives who are related to the
  proposed ward within the third degree by consanguinity and who are
  adults;
               (12)  for a proposed ward who is a minor, whether the
  minor was the subject of a legal or conservatorship proceeding in
  the preceding two years and, if so:
                     (A)  the court involved;
                     (B)  the nature of the proceeding; and
                     (C)  any final disposition of the proceeding;
               (13)  for a proposed ward who is an adult, the following
  information if known by the applicant:
                     (A)  the name of the proposed ward's spouse, if
  any, and either the spouse's address or that the spouse is deceased;
                     (B)  the name of each of the proposed ward's
  parents and either the parent's address or that the parent is
  deceased;
                     (C)  the name and age of each of the proposed
  ward's siblings, if any, and either the sibling's address or that
  the sibling is deceased;
                     (D)  the name and age of each of the proposed
  ward's children, if any, and either the child's address or that the
  child is deceased; and
                     (E)  if there is no living spouse, parent, adult
  sibling, or adult child of the proposed ward, the names and
  addresses of the proposed ward's other living relatives who are
  related to the proposed ward within the third degree by
  consanguinity and who are adults;
               (14)  facts showing that the court has venue of the
  proceeding; and
               (15)  if applicable, that the person whom the applicant
  seeks to have appointed as a guardian is a private professional
  guardian who is certified under Subchapter C, Chapter 155,
  Government Code, and has complied with the requirements of
  Subchapter G, Chapter 1104.
         SECTION 7.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 1101,
  Estates Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B. HEARING; JURY TRIAL; MEDIATION
         SECTION 8.  Section 1101.052, Estates Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1101.052.  JURY TRIAL AND MEDIATION. A proposed ward is
  entitled to a jury trial on request. At any time after the filing of
  an application for guardianship but before the date of the final
  hearing or jury trial for the appointment of a guardian, the court
  may refer a matter to mediation in accordance with Section
  1055.151. 
         SECTION 9.  Section 1201.053, Estates Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  In reviewing a guardianship under Section 1201.052, a
  court may require the following persons to participate in a
  mediation in connection with the guardianship matter:
               (1)  the ward;
               (2)  the ward's guardian;
               (3)  an attorney ad litem appointed to represent the
  ward or the ward's interests;
               (4)  a guardian ad litem appointed to represent the
  ward or the ward's interests;
               (5)  a family member of the ward; or
               (6)  any other person interested in the ward's welfare.
         SECTION 10.  Section 1202.001, Estates Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  A guardianship of the person shall be settled and
  closed when the court finds that the ward's incapacity needs can be
  managed without the necessity for that continued guardianship by an
  alternative to guardianship or with supports and services as
  provided by Subchapter F.
         SECTION 11.  Chapter 1202, Estates Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F. TERMINATION OF GUARDIANSHIP OF THE PERSON ON FINDING
  THAT INCAPACITY THE PERSON'S NEEDS CAN BE MANAGED WITHOUT
  GUARDIANSHIP
         Sec. 1202.231.  TERMINATION OF GUARDIANSHIP OF THE PERSON ON
  FINDING THAT WARD'S INCAPACITY NEEDS CAN BE MANAGED WITHOUT
  GUARDIANSHIP. On application by the guardian of the person of a
  ward or another person interested in the ward's welfare, or on the
  court's own motion and subject to Section 1202.232, the court may
  order that the guardianship of the person of the ward terminate and
  be settled and closed if the court makes the findings required under
  Section 1202.233.
         Sec. 1202.232.  PHYSICIAN'S LETTER OR CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
  (a)  The court may not grant an order terminating a guardianship of
  the person under Section 1202.231 unless the applicant presents to
  the court or the court secures a written letter or certificate from
  a physician licensed in this state that is dated:
               (1)  not earlier than the 120th day before the date the
  application was filed or the date the court enters the court's
  motion; or
               (2)  any time after the date the application was filed
  or the date the court's motion was entered but before the date of
  the hearing.
         (b)  A letter or certificate presented under Subsection (a)
  must:
               (1)  describe the nature and degree of incapacity of
  the ward, including the ward's medical history if reasonably
  available;
               (2)  provide a medical prognosis for the ward
  specifying the estimated severity of any incapacity;
               (3)  state how or in what manner the ward's ability to
  make or communicate responsible decisions concerning the ward is
  affected by the ward's physical or mental health;
               (4)  state whether any current medication affects the
  ward's demeanor or the ward's ability to participate fully in a
  court proceeding;
               (5)  describe the precise physical and mental
  conditions underlying a diagnosis of senility, if applicable;
               (6)  describe feasible alternatives to guardianship
  available to the ward that would avoid the need for the continued
  appointment of a guardian of the person and state whether, in the
  physician's opinion, those alternatives to guardianship meet the
  following needs of the ward without the necessity for a continued
  guardianship of the person:
                     (A)  provision of food, clothing, and shelter for
  the ward's own self;
                     (B)  care for the ward's own physical health; and
                     (C)  management of the ward's financial affairs;
               (7)  describe feasible supports and services available
  to the ward that would avoid the need for the continued appointment
  of a guardian of the person for the ward and state whether, in the
  physician's opinion, the supports and services meet the following
  needs of the ward without the necessity for a continued
  guardianship of the person:
                     (A)  provision of food, clothing, and shelter for
  the ward's own self;
                     (B)  care for the ward's own physical health; and
                     (C)  management of the ward's financial affairs;
  and
               (8)  include any other information required by the
  court.
         (c)  If the court determines it is necessary, the court may
  appoint the necessary physicians to examine the ward.
         Sec. 1202.233.  FINDINGS REQUIRED. Before ordering the
  termination of a guardianship of the person under Section 1202.231,
  the court must find by a preponderance of the evidence that:
               (1)  the ward remains a partially or completely
  incapacitated person;
               (2)  the current nature and degree of the ward's
  incapacity and the ward's needs can be managed without the
  necessity of a continued guardianship of the person by:
                     (A)  alternatives to guardianship that are
  available to the ward and that are determined to be feasible; or
                     (B)  supports and services that are available to
  the ward and that are determined to be feasible; and
               (3)  termination of the guardianship of the person:
                     (A)  is in the ward's best interest; and
                     (B)  will encourage the development or
  maintenance of maximum self-reliance and independence in the ward.
         Sec. 1202.234.  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ORDER. A court
  order that terminates a guardianship of the person under this
  subchapter must:
               (1)  contain the findings required under Section
  1202.233;
               (2)  state the guardian's name;
               (3)  state the ward's name;
               (4)  specify:
                     (A)  the supports and services that:
                           (i)  will meet the ward's needs without the
  continued necessity for guardianship of the person; and
                           (ii)  justify the termination of that
  guardianship; or
                     (B)  the alternatives to guardianship that:
                           (i)  will meet the ward's needs without the
  continued necessity for guardianship of the person; and
                           (ii)  justify the termination of that
  guardianship;
               (5)  identify the persons or entities providing or that
  will provide:
                     (A)  the supports and services described by
  Subdivision (4)(A); or
                     (B)  alternatives to guardianship described by
  Subdivision (4)(B);
               (6)  state that the guardian is required to:
                     (A)  immediately settle the guardianship in
  accordance with this title; and
                     (B)  deliver all of the ward's remaining personal
  effects and assets, if any, to the persons or entities identified
  under Subdivision (5)(A) or (B), as applicable; and
               (7)  state that the clerk shall revoke letters of
  guardianship of the person when the guardianship is finally settled
  and closed.
         Sec. 1202.235.  NOTICE; APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM OR
  GUARDIAN AD LITEM. A court may, in its discretion, enter additional
  orders in the best interest of the ward, including but not limited
  to:
               (1)  requiring notice to interested parties;;
               (2)  appoint an attorney ad litem and/or guardian ad
  litem.
         SECTION 12.  Chapter 155, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G.  GUARDIANSHIP MEDIATION TRAINING
         Sec. 155.301.  TRAINING. The Office of Court Administration
  by rule shall establish a 24 hour training course for use by
  approved dispute resolution training providers for those persons
  appointed to facilitate mediations under Title 3, Estates Code.  
  Providers of mediation training shall adhere to the approved
  curriculum.
         SECTION 13.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided by this
  section, the changes in law made by this Act apply to a guardianship
  created before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Section 1023.001, Estates Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to a proceeding commenced on or after the effective
  date of this Act. A proceeding commenced before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the proceeding
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         (c)  Section 1101.001(b), Estates Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies only to an application for the appointment of a
  guardian filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  application for the appointment of a guardian filed before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
  date the application was filed, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.