Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB198 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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4		-	An Act
5		-	ENROLLED SENATE
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
	30	+
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
	32	+
	33	+	1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
	34	+
	35	+	ENGROSSED SENATE
6	36		BILL NO. 198 By: Rosino of the Senate
7	37
8	38		and
9	39
10	40		Lawson of the House
11	41
12	42
13	43
14	44
15	45		An Act relating to the Oklahoma Guardianship and
16	46		Conservatorship Act; amending 30 O.S. 2011, Sections
17	47		1-111, as amended by Section 28, Chapter 475, O.S.L.
18	48		2019 and 3-111 (30 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 1 -111),
19	49		which relate to definitions and court order
20	50		appointing guardian; modifying definitions; requiring
21	51		court to make certain determinations; authorizing
22	52		dismissal of action under certain circumstances;
23	53		requiring court order to include specified finding;
24	54		establishing requirements for certain guardianships;
25	55		making language gender neutral; and providing an
26	56		effective date.
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31		-	SUBJECT: Guardianship of incapacitated person
32		-
33	61		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
34		-
35	62		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 30 O.S. 2011, Section 1 -111, as
36	63		amended by Section 28, Chapter 475, O.S.L. 2019 (30 O.S. Supp. 2020,
37	64		Section 1-111), is amended to read as follows:
38		-
39	65		Section 1-111. A. As used in the Oklahoma Guardianship and
40	66		Conservatorship Act:
41		-
42	67		1. “Abuse” means the intentional infliction of physical pain,
43	68		injury, or mental anguish or the deprivation of food, clothing,
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44	96		shelter, or medical care to an incapacitated per son, partially
45	97		incapacitated person, or a minor by a guardian or other person
46	98		responsible for providing these services;
47		-
48		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 2
49		-
50	99		2. “Confidential information ” means medical records, physical,
51	100		psychological or other evaluations of a ward or subject of the
52	101		proceeding, initial and subsequent guardianship plans, reports of
53	102		guardians, limited guardians and conservators submitted to the court
54	103		in connection with a proceeding pursuant to the provisions of the
55	104		Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act;
56		-
57	105		3. “Court” means a judge of the district court assigned to hear
58	106		probate matters or assigned to the division of the district court
59	107		designated to exercise probate jurisdiction;
60		-
61	108		4. “Estate” means the property of the person whose affairs are
62	109		subject to a guardianship proceed ing;
63		-
64	110		5. “Evaluation” means a professional assessment of:
65		-
66	111		a. the ability of an adult to receive and evaluate
67	112		information effectively or communicate decisions,
68		-
69	113		b. the impact of any impairment of these skills on the
70	114		capacity of the individual to meet the ess ential
71	115		requirements for his the individual’s physical health
72	116		or safety, or to manage his the individual’s financial
73	117		resources, and
	118	+	c. the services necessary to provide for the ward;
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75		-	c. the services necessary to provide for the ward;
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77	146		6. “Exploitation” means an unjust or improper use of the
78	147		resources of an incapacitated person, a partially incapacitated
79	148		person, or a minor for the profit or advantage, pecuniary or
80	149		otherwise, of a person other than an incapacitated person, a
81	150		partially incapacitated person , or a minor through the use of undue
82	151		influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false
83	152		representation, or false pretense;
84		-
85	153		7. A “guardian of an incapacitated person ” means a person who
86	154		has been appointed by a court to serve as the guardian of an
87	155		incapacitated person to assure that the essential require ments for
88	156		the health and safety of the person are met, to manage the estate or
89	157		financial resources of the person, or both;
90		-
91		-
92		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 3
93	158		8. “Guardian ad litem” means, with respect to a guardianship
94	159		proceeding, a person appointed by the court to assist the subject of
95	160		the proceeding in making decisions with regard to the guardianship
96	161		proceeding, or to make the decisions when the subject of the
97	162		proceeding is wholly incapable of making the decisions even with
98	163		assistance;
99		-
100	164		9. “Guardianship plan” means the plan for the care a nd
101	165		treatment of a ward, the plan for the management of the financial
102	166		resources of a ward, or both;
103		-
104	167		10. “Guardianship proceeding ” means a proceeding for the
105	168		appointment of a guardian, or for other orders regarding the
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106	196		condition, care or treatment or for th e management of the financial
107	197		resources of a ward;
108		-
109	198		11. “Guardianship report” means any report required by the
110	199		provisions of Sections 4 -305 and 4-306 of this title;
111		-
112	200		12. “Incapacitated person ” means a person eighteen (18) years
113	201		of age or older:
114		-
115	202		a. who is impaired by reason of:
116		-
117	203		(1) mental illness as defined by Section 1 -103 of
118	204		Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes,
119		-
120	205		(2) intellectual or developmental disability as
121	206		defined by Section 1430.2 of Title 10 of the
122	207		Oklahoma Statutes,
123		-
124	208		(3) physical illness or disability,
125		-
126	209		(4) drug or alcohol dependency as defined by Section
127	210		3-403 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, or
128		-
129	211		(5) such other similar cause, and
130		-
131	212		b. whose ability to receive and evaluate information
132	213		effectively or to make and to communicate responsible
133	214		decisions is impaired to such an extent that the
134	215		person:
135		-
136		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 4
137		-
138	216		(1) lacks the capacity to meet essential requirements
139	217		for his physical health or safety, or
	218	+	(2) is unable to manage his financial resources.
140	219
141		-	(2) is unable to manage his financial resources.
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143	246		Whenever in the Oklahoma Statutes the term “incompetent person”
144	247		appears and refers to a person who has been found by a district
145	248		court to be an incompetent person because of an impairment or
146	249		condition described in this paragraph it shall have the same meaning
147	250		as “incapacitated person ” but shall not include a person who is a
148	251		partially incapacitated person;
149		-
150	252		13. “Least restrictive dispositional alternative” means the
151	253		form of assistance that least interferes with the legal ability of
152	254		an incapacitated or partially incapacitated person to act in his own
153	255		behalf an approach to meeting the needs of an individual that
154	256		restricts fewer rights of the individual than would the appointment
155	257		of a guardian or conservator including, but not limited to,
156	258		supported decision making, appropriate technological assistance,
157	259		appointment of a representative payee and appointment of an agent by
158	260		the individual including under a power of attorney for health care
159	261		or finances;
160		-
161	262		14. “Intangible personal property ” means cash, stocks and
162	263		bonds, mutual funds, money market accounts, certificates of deposit,
163	264		insurance contracts, commodity accounts, and other assets of a
164	265		similar nature;
165		-
166	266		15. “Letters” means a document issued by the court subsequent
167	267		to the appointment of a guardian which designates the name of the
168	268		guardian and specifies the authority and powers of the gua rdian.
169	269		Such document shall be endorsed thereon with the oath of the
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170	297		guardian that he or she will perform the duties of his or her office
171	298		as guardian according to law;
172		-
173	299		16. A “limited guardian” means a person appointed by the court
174	300		to serve as the guardian of a partially incapacitated person and who
175	301		is authorized by the court to exercise only:
176		-
177	302		a. some of the powers of a guardian of the person or
178	303		whose power as guardian of the person extends only to
179		-
180		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 5
181	304		certain matters pertaining to the care or control of
182	305		the ward as specified by the court, or
183		-
184	306		b. certain powers as guardian of the property over the
185	307		estate or financial resources of the ward, or whose
186	308		powers as guardian of the property extend only to some
187	309		portion of the estate or financial resources of the
188	310		ward;
189		-
190	311		17. “Manage financial resources ” or “manage the estate” means
191	312		those actions necessary to obtain, administer , and dispose of real
192	313		property, business property, benefits and income, and to otherwise
193	314		manage personal financial or business affairs;
194		-
195	315		18. “Meet the essential requirements for physical health or
196	316		safety” means those actions necessary to provide the health care,
197	317		food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene and other care without
198	318		which serious physical injury is more likely than not to occur;
	319	+	19. “Minor” means a person under eighteen (18) years of age;
199	320
200		-	19. “Minor” means a person under eighteen (18) years of age;
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202	347		20. “Neglect” means the failure to provide protection for an
203	348		incapacitated person, a partially incapacitated person , or a minor
204	349		who is unable to protect the person ’s own interest; or the failure
205	350		to provide adequate shelter or clothing; or the harming or
206	351		threatening with harm through action or inaction by either another
207	352		individual or through the person ’s own action or inaction because of
208	353		a lack of awareness, incompetence , or incapacity, which has resulted
209	354		or may result in physical or mental injury;
210		-
211	355		21. “Organization” means a corporation, trust, business trust,
212	356		partnership, association , or other legal entity;
213		-
214	357		22. “Partially incapacitated person ” means an incapacitated
215	358		person whose impairment is only to the exte nt that without the
216	359		assistance of a limited guardian the person is unable to:
217		-
218	360		a. meet the essential requirements for his physical
219	361		health or safety, or
220		-
221	362		b. manage all of his the person’s financial resources or
222	363		to engage in all of the activities necessary for the
223		-
224		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 6
225	364		effective management of his the person’s financial
226	365		resources.
227		-
228	366		A finding that an individual is a partially incapacitated person
229	367		shall not constitute a finding of legal incompetence. A partially
230	368		incapacitated person shall be legally competent in all ar eas other
231	369		than the area or areas specified by the court in its dispositional
232	370		or subsequent orders. Such person shall retain all legal rights and
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233	398		abilities other than those expressly limited or curtailed in the
234	399		orders;
235		-
236	400		23. “Party” means the person or enti ty filing a petition,
237	401		application, motion, acceptance of a testamentary nomination , or
238	402		objection; the subject of a guardianship proceeding; and the
239	403		guardian, the guardian ad litem and the conservator, if any such
240	404		persons have been appointed;
241		-
242	405		24. “Person” means an individual;
243		-
244	406		25. “Property” means real property, personal property, income,
245	407		any interest in such real or personal property and includes anything
246	408		that may be the subject of ownership;
247		-
248	409		26. “Restrictions on the legal capacity of a person to act in
249	410		his the person’s own behalf” means powers of an incapacitated or
250	411		partially incapacitated person which are assigned to a guardian;
251		-
252	412		27. “Subject of the proceeding ” means a minor or an adult:
253		-
254	413		a. who is the subject of a petition requesting the
255	414		appointment of a guardian, limited guardian or special
256	415		guardian,
257		-
258	416		b. for whom a guardian or limited guardian has been
259	417		appointed by the court, or
260		-
261	418		c. an adult for whom a conservator is requested or
262	419		appointed; and
263		-
264	420		28. “Supported decision making ” means assistance from one or
265	421		more persons chosen by an individual in understanding the nature and
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266	449		consequences of potential personal and financial decisions to enable
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268		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 7
269	450		the individual to make such decisions, and in communicating such
270	451		decisions if consistent with the wishes of the indivi dual; and
271		-
272	452		29. “Surcharge” means the imposition of personal liability by a
273	453		court on a guardian or limited guardian for willful or negligent
274	454		misconduct in the administration of the estate or other financial
275	455		resources of a ward.
276		-
277	456		B. 1. Nothing in this secti on shall be construed to mean an
278	457		incapacitated person, a partially incapacitated person , or a minor
279	458		is abused or neglected for the sole reason that a guardian or other
280	459		person responsible, in good faith, selects and depends upon
281	460		spiritual means alone throug h prayer, in accordance with the tenets
282	461		and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination, for
283	462		the treatment or cure of disease or remedial care of the person or
284	463		minor in their trust, and, in the case of an adult, in accordance
285	464		with the practices of or the express consent of the incapacitated or
286	465		partially incapacitated person.
287		-
288	466		2. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent a court
289	467		from immediately assuming custody of a minor, pursuant to the
290	468		Oklahoma Children’s Code, and ordering whatev er action may be
291	469		necessary, including medical treatment, to protect the minor ’s
292	470		health or welfare.
293		-
294	471		SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 30 O.S. 2011, Section 3 -111, is
295	472		amended to read as follows:
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296	499
297	500		Section 3-111. A. At the hearing on the petitio n the court
298	501		shall determine whether or not it is necessary to appoint a guardian
299	502		of the person, property or both. If a guardian is needed, the court
300	503		shall determine:
301		-
302	504		1. When a general or limited guardian of the person of the
303	505		subject of the proceeding is requested, the essential requirements
304	506		for the health and safety of the subject of the proceeding and the
305	507		skills and knowledge necessary to meet those requirements;
306		-
307	508		2. When a general or limited guardian of the property of the
308	509		subject of the proceeding is r equested, the type and amount of the
309	510		financial resources of the subject of the proceeding, the essential
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312	511		requirements for managing the financial resources , and the skills
313	512		and knowledge necessary to manage the financial resources;
314		-
315	513		3. The nature and extent of the incapacity of the subject of
316	514		the proceeding, if any; and
317		-
318	515		4. Whether by clear and convincing evidence the subject of the
319	516		proceeding is an incapacitated or partially incapacitated person.
320		-
321	517		B. If after a full hearing and examination upon such petition ,
322	518		the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the subject of
323	519		the proceeding is an incapacitated or partially incapacitated
324	520		person, the court shall appoint a guardian or limited guardian and
325	521		shall issue an order appointing a guardian. The court s hall explain
326	522		on the record the facts and reasons supporting the decision not to
327	523		impose any determine the extent of the incapacity and the
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328	551		feasibility of less restrictive alternatives to guardianship to meet
329	552		the needs of the subject of the proceeding. Upon such
330	553		determination, the court may:
331		-
332	554		1. Dismiss the action if the court finds that less restrictive
333	555		alternatives to guardianship are feasible and adequate to meet the
334	556		needs of the subject of the proceeding ; or
335		-
336	557		2. Appoint a guardian or limited guardian . An order making
337	558		such an appointment shall include a specific finding that it was
338	559		established by clear and convincing evidence that the identified
339	560		needs of the subject of the proceeding require a guardianship
340	561		instead of less restrictive alternatives .
341		-
342	562		C. Guardianship for an incapacitated person shall be:
343		-
344	563		1. Used only as is necessary to promote and protect the well -
345	564		being of the person and his or her property;
346		-
347	565		2. Designed to encourage the development of maximum self -
348	566		reliance and independence of the person; an d
349		-
350	567		3. Ordered only to the extent required by the actual mental,
351	568		physical and adaptive limitations of the person .
352		-
353	569		SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
354	570
355		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 198 Page 9
356		-
357		-	Passed the Senate the 8th day of March, 2021.
358		-
359		-
360		-
361		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
362		-
363		-
364		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 14th day of April, 2021.
365		-
366		-
367		-
368		-	Presiding Officer of the House
369		-	of Representatives
370		-
371		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
372		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
373		-	day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
374		-	By: _______________________________ __
375		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
376		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
377		-
378		-	____________________________ _____
379		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
380		-
381		-
382		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
383		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
384		-	day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
385		-	By: _______________________________ __
	571	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY - CIVIL, dated
	572	+	03/30/2021 - DO PASS.