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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and related |
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disorders for certain guardians. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 155.203(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) In adopting rules under this section, the supreme court |
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shall ensure that: |
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(1) the commission is required to provide confirmation |
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of a person's completion of the training required by Section |
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155.204(a)(1) and a copy of the person's criminal history |
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background check to the probate court not later than the 10th day |
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before the date of the hearing to appoint a guardian; and |
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(2) a probate court is required to ensure a guardian's |
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timely completion of the training required by Section |
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155.204(a)(2), unless the training is waived by the probate court |
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as provided by Section 155.204(a)(3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 155.204, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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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) and Subsection (a-1), |
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ensure that not later than the sixth month after the date a guardian |
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is appointed and at least once a year after the initial training |
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under this subdivision, the guardian completes a one-hour training |
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course: |
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(A) designed to educate guardians on Alzheimer's |
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disease, dementia, and related disorders, 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) from a list of one or more training courses |
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approved by the commission and made available for free to guardians |
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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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(a-1) Subsection (a)(2) applies only to a guardian of the |
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person or the estate, or both, of a ward who is: |
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(1) 60 years of age or older; or |
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(2) younger than 60 years of age if the ward has been |
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diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or a related |
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disorder. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Supreme Court shall adopt the rules required under Sections 155.203 |
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and 155.204, Government Code, as 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 approve and make available on the |
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commission's Internet website the list of training courses required |
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by Section 155.204(a)(2), 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, who |
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is required to complete the training required by Section |
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155.204(a)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, shall |
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complete the initial training required by that section not later |
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than January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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