HB2665 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 10372 HEP 20564 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2665

Introduced , by Rep. William Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the State Guardian shall provide a training program that outlines the duties and responsibilities of guardians appointed for adults with disabilities under the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the training program shall be offered to courts at no cost, and shall outline the responsibilities of guardians and the rights of persons with disabilities in adult guardianships. Provides that in developing the training program content, the State Guardian may consult with various entities. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a person may not act as the guardian of an adult with a disability until he or she has completed a training program developed by the State Guardian or by another suitable provider approved by the court. Exempts from the training requirements public guardians, state guardians, attorneys currently authorized to practice law, and persons who are certified as National Certified Guardians by the Center for Guardianship Certification. Provides that at the conclusion of a hearing on a petition to terminate the adjudication of disability or revoke or modify letters of appointment, the court may require the guardian to complete the training program. Provides that the Governor may designate, without the advice and consent of the Senate, the Office of State Guardian as an interim public guardian to fill a vacancy in one or more counties. Provides that the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission shall provide public guardians with information about certification requirements and procedures for testing and certification offered by (instead of "professional training opportunities and facilitate testing and certification opportunities at locations in Springfield and Chicago with") the Center for Guardianship Certification. Effective one year after becoming law.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Guardianship and Advocacy Act is amended by adding Section 33.5 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3955/33.5 new)

Sec. 33.5. Guardianship training program. The State Guardian shall provide a training program that outlines the duties and responsibilities of guardians appointed under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975. The training program shall be offered to courts at no cost, and shall outline the responsibilities of a guardian and the rights of a person with a disability in a guardianship proceeding under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975. In developing the training program content, the State Guardian may consult with the courts, State and national guardianship organizations, public guardians, advocacy organizations, and persons and family members with direct experience with adult guardianship.

Section 10. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing Sections 11a-5, 11a-21, 13-1, and 13-1.2 as follows:

(755 ILCS 5/11a-5) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-5)

Sec. 11a-5. Who may act as guardian.

(a) A person is qualified to act as guardian of the person and as guardian of the estate of a person with a disability if the court finds that the proposed guardian is capable of providing an active and suitable program of guardianship for the person with a disability and that the proposed guardian:

(1) has attained the age of 18 years;

(2) is a resident of the United States;

(3) is not of unsound mind;

(4) is not an adjudged person with a disability as defined in this Act; and

(5) has not been convicted of a felony, unless the court finds appointment of the person convicted of a felony to be in the best interests of the person with a disability, and as part of the best interest determination, the court has considered the nature of the offense, the date of offense, and the evidence of the proposed guardian's rehabilitation. No person shall be appointed who has been convicted of a felony involving harm or threat to a minor or an elderly person or a person with a disability, including a felony sexual offense; and .

(6) has completed a training program, developed by the State Guardian in accordance with Section 33.5 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act or by another suitable provider approved by the court, that outlines the responsibilities of a guardian and the rights of a person with a disability, and has been made available at no cost by the court or another suitable provider approved by the court.

(b) Any public agency, or not-for-profit corporation found capable by the court of providing an active and suitable program of guardianship for the person with a disability, taking into consideration the nature of such person's disability and the nature of such organization's services, may be appointed guardian of the person or of the estate, or both, of the person with a disability. The court shall not appoint as guardian an agency which is directly providing residential services to the ward. One person or agency may be appointed guardian of the person and another person or agency appointed guardian of the estate.

(c) Any corporation qualified to accept and execute trusts in this State may be appointed guardian of the estate of a person with a disability.

(d) Public guardians, state guardians, attorneys currently authorized to practice law, and persons who are certified as National Certified Guardians by the Center for Guardianship Certification are exempt from the training requirement under paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-120, eff. 1-1-14; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(755 ILCS 5/11a-21) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-21)

Sec. 11a-21. Hearing. (a) The court shall conduct a hearing on a petition filed under Section 11a-20. The ward is entitled to be represented by counsel, to demand a jury of 6 persons, to present evidence and to confront and cross-examine all witnesses. The court (1) may appoint counsel for the ward, if the court finds that the interests of the ward will be best served by the appointment and (2) shall appoint counsel upon the ward's request or if the respondent takes a position adverse to that of the guardian ad litem. The court may allow the guardian ad litem and counsel for the ward reasonable compensation.

(b) If the ward is unable to pay the fee of the guardian ad litem or appointed counsel, or both, the court shall enter an order upon the State to pay, from funds appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose, all such fees or such amounts as the ward is unable to pay.

(c) Upon conclusion of the hearing, the court shall enter an order setting forth the factual basis for its findings and may: (1) dismiss the petition; (2) terminate the adjudication of disability; (3) revoke the letters of guardianship of the estate or person, or both; (4) modify the duties of the guardian; and (5) require the guardian to complete a training program as provided in subdivision (a)(6) of Section 11a-5 of this Act; and (6) make any other order which the court deems appropriate and in the interests of the ward.

(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(755 ILCS 5/13-1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 13-1)

Sec. 13-1. Appointment and term of public administrator and public guardian.) Except as provided in Section 13-1.1, before the first Monday of December, 1977 and every 4 years thereafter, and as often as vacancies occur, the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint in each county a suitable person to serve as public administrator and a suitable person to serve as public guardian of the county. The Governor may designate, without the advice and consent of the Senate, the Office of State Guardian as an interim public guardian to fill a vacancy in one or more counties. When appointed as an interim public guardian, the State Guardian will perform the powers and duties assigned under the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. The Governor may appoint the same person to serve as public guardian and public administrator in one or more counties. In considering the number of counties of service for any prospective public guardian or public administrator the Governor may consider the population of the county and the ability of the prospective public guardian or public administrator to travel to multiple counties and manage estates in multiple counties. Each person so appointed holds his office for 4 years from the first Monday of December, 1977 and every 4 years thereafter or until his successor is appointed and qualified.

(Source: P.A. 96-752, eff. 1-1-10.)

(755 ILCS 5/13-1.2)

Sec. 13-1.2. Certification requirement. Each person appointed as a public guardian by the Governor shall be certified as a National Certified Guardian by the Center for Guardianship Certification within 6 months after his or her appointment. The Guardianship and Advocacy Commission shall provide public guardians with information about certification requirements and procedures for testing and certification offered by professional training opportunities and facilitate testing and certification opportunities at locations in Springfield and Chicago with the Center for Guardianship Certification. The cost of certification shall be considered an expense connected with the operation of the public guardian's office within the meaning of subsection (b) of Section 13-3.1 of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 96-752, eff. 1-1-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect one year after becoming law.