| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a study on effective case management practices and |
|
|
procedures for courts in guardianship proceedings. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
|
|
(1) "Guardianship proceeding" has the meaning |
|
|
assigned by Section 1002.015, Estates Code. |
|
|
(2) "Office" means the Office of Court Administration |
|
|
of the Texas Judicial System. |
|
|
(b) Using available resources, the office shall conduct a |
|
|
study on effective case management practices and procedures for |
|
|
courts in guardianship proceedings in this state. |
|
|
(c) The office shall: |
|
|
(1) use the findings of the study to establish |
|
|
standardized case management practices for courts hearing |
|
|
guardianship proceedings; and |
|
|
(2) prepare a report based on the study conducted |
|
|
under this section. |
|
|
(d) The report under Subsection (c)(2) must include: |
|
|
(1) an evaluation of: |
|
|
(A) the cost of adopting an electronic case |
|
|
management system for use by courts in guardianship proceedings; |
|
|
(B) whether the use of an electronic case |
|
|
management system should be mandatory or permissive on the courts; |
|
|
(C) what fields, data, and other elements should |
|
|
be included in the electronic case management system; and |
|
|
(D) the potential difficulties in implementing |
|
|
the electronic case management system, including specific barriers |
|
|
for use of the system by each type of court to which the system would |
|
|
apply, including statutory probate courts, constitutional county |
|
|
courts, statutory county courts, and district courts; |
|
|
(2) any other information the office considers helpful |
|
|
in assessing the value or necessity of implementing the electronic |
|
|
case management system; and |
|
|
(3) legislative and other recommendations for |
|
|
implementation of the most effective case management practices and |
|
|
procedures for courts hearing guardianship proceedings. |
|
|
(e) Not later than September 1, 2027, the office shall |
|
|
submit the report required under Subsection (c)(2) of this section |
|
|
to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
|
|
representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the |
|
|
legislature. |
|
|
(f) This section expires January 1, 2028. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |