Appointment of public guardians

The law adds response, investigation, and status-update duties when a person may need court-appointed protection and no qualified private person is available.

What the law does ​

• Requires a public guardian to acknowledge a guardianship or conservatorship referral and begin investigating within two business days.
• Requires the investigation to conclude within a reasonable time.
• Requires conservatorship investigations to determine whether a temporary or general conservatorship is warranted.
• Requires public guardians to provide the referring party with an investigation-status update upon request.
• Provides for reimbursement of mandated local costs if the Commission on State Mandates finds reimbursable state-mandated costs.

Who it affects ​

• County public guardians.
• People who may need a guardian or conservator and lack another qualified, willing person to serve.
• People and entities making guardianship or conservatorship referrals.