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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training on dementia and Alzheimer's disease for |
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certain guardians. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 155.204(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) In adopting rules under Section 155.203, the supreme |
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court shall: |
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(1) subject to Subdivision (3) [(2)], ensure that |
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before a person is appointed guardian, the person completes a |
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training course: |
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(A) designed by the commission to educate |
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proposed guardians about their responsibilities as guardians, |
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alternatives to guardianships, supports and services available to |
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the proposed ward, and a ward's bill of rights under Section |
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1151.351, Estates Code; and |
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(B) made available for free to proposed guardians |
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by the commission online via the commission's Internet website and, |
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on request, in a written format; [and] |
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(2) subject to Subdivision (3), ensure that not later |
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than the sixth month after the date a guardian is appointed and at |
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least once a year, the guardian completes a three-hour training |
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course: |
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(A) designed by the commission to educate |
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guardians on dementia and Alzheimer's disease, including providing |
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information about: |
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(i) common aspects of aging; |
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(ii) warning signs of dementia and |
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Alzheimer's disease; |
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(iii) effective strategies for |
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communicating with a person who is diagnosed with dementia or |
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Alzheimer's disease; and |
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(iv) effective strategies for supporting a |
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person who is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease in |
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exercising the person's rights; and |
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(B) made available for free to guardians by the |
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commission online via the commission's Internet website; and |
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(3) identify the circumstances under which a court may |
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waive the training required under this section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary to provide the |
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training required under Section 155.204(a)(2), Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than July 1, 2026, the Judicial Branch |
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Certification Commission shall make available on the commission's |
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Internet website the course required by Section 155.204(a)(2), |
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Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 155.204(a), Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act, a guardian appointed before July 1, 2026, |
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shall complete the initial training required by Section |
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155.204(a)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, not later |
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than September 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |