Req. No. 365 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) SENATE BILL 300 By: Rosino AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to guardianship of vulnerable adult; amending 43A O.S. 2011, Section 1 0-108, which relates to petition for involuntary pr otective services; requiring dismissal of temporary guardianship upon removal of emergency conditions; clarifying scope of certain service; and providing an effecti ve date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43A O.S. 2011, Section 10 -108, is amended to read as follows: Section 10-108. A. 1. If the Department of Human Services determines that a vulnerable adult is suffering fro m abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial neglect or exploitation presenting a substantial risk of death or immediate and serious physical harm to the person or financial exploitation of the estate of the person, and the vulnerable adult lacks mental ca pacity to consent to receive protective services an d no consent can be obtained, the Department may petition the district court in the county specified by par agraph 3 of this subsection for an order: Req. No. 365 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. authorizing involuntary protective services and appointing a temporary guardian of the person and/or the estate, b. freezing the assets of the vulnerable adult, if the vulnerable adult is being exploited, establ ishing any new accounts necessary to pay the daily living expenses of the vulnerable adult, and di recting a full accounting and investigation of the person alleged to be improperly managing the esta te of the vulnerable adult, c. suspending or revoking the powers of an attorney -in- fact granted by a durable power of attorney, or revoking an irrevocable t rust, or terminating a guardianship or conservators hip established pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardian ship and Conservatorship Act , or d. directing any law enfo rcement agency to transport any incapacitated person or vulnerable adult as necessary for appropriate care, treatment and residential placement. If such transportation is ordered, reimbursement for expenses incurred from the transportation of a vulnerable adult under the Department’s temporary guardianship shall be paid as provided for in Section 10 -107 of this title. Req. No. 365 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Under no circumstances shall the court authorize the Department, pursuant to t his subsection, to consent or deny consent to a Do-Not-Resuscitate order or the withdrawal of hydration or nutrition or other life -sustaining treatment alth ough the court retains jurisdiction to hear such ma tters under applicable law. 3. The district cour t which may be petitioned by the Department for an order pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection is: a. the district court in the county in which the vulnerable adult resides, b. the district court in the county in which the vulnerable adult is receivin g inpatient services, or c. the district court in the coun ty where the vulnerable adult is located when any delay caused by taking the petition to the distr ict court in the county of the residence of the vul nerable adult would result in greater substantial risk of death or greater serious physical harm to the vul nerable adult. The petition shall include an explanation of why the petition was filed in the district court in the county specified by this subparagraph rather than in the district court as specified in subparagraph a or b of this paragraph. B. The petition shall be sworn to and include the name, age, and address of the vulnerable adult who the Depa rtment has determined is in need of emergency prote ctive services, the nature Req. No. 365 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 of the abuse, neglect, or exploitation, the services needed, and information relating to the capacity of the person to consent to services and a description of the attempts of th e Department to obtain consent and the name of the person or organization proposed to be appointed as temporary guardian. C. 1. The vulnerable adult shall r eceive an opportunity for a hearing upon the petition, and shall be personally served with a copy of the petition and a notice scheduling hearing at least forty- eight (48) hours prior to any such he aring if the petition seeks temporary guardianship of thir ty (30) days or more. 2. a. The hearing shall be set by the court on an expedited basis, but no later than five (5) calendar days, not including weekends or holidays when the court is closed, from the date the notice scheduling hearing is signed by the judge. The vulnerable adult shall have a right to a closed hearing unless such vulnerable adult requests otherwise. b. Unless the vulnerable adult obje cts or the person requiring notification pursuant to this subparagraph is alleged to have abused, neglected or exploited the vulnerable adult, the following persons shall be notified of any hearing held pu rsuant to this subsection: Req. No. 365 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (1) the legal guardian, guardian ad litem and caretaker of the vulnerable adult, (2) any person so requested by the vulnerable adul t to be present at the hearing, and (3) persons required to be notified pursuant to Section 3-110 of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes. D. 1. Upon sworn testimony of a representative of the Department, or statement of a district attorney representing the Department, that immediate and reasonably foreseeable death or serious physical harm to or financ ial exploitation of the vulnerable adult will result, the court may waive prior notice and issue a seventy-two-hour temporary guardianship and provide involun tary protective services whether or not during regular courthouse business hours. However, within twenty-four (24) hours of issuance of the seventy-two-hour order, the vulnerable adult and the atto rney of the vulnerable adult, if known, shall be personall y served with written notice scheduling a hearing within seventy -two (72) hours. 2. If a hearing on the seventy-two-hour order is declined, or upon conclusion of any such hearing, the court may ter minate the temporary guardianship and involuntary services or enter a temporary guardianship for up to thirty (30) additional calendar days as provided for in subsection G of this section. Req. No. 365 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. 1. The vulnerable adult has a right to be present and represented by counsel at any hearing authorized by this section. If the vulnerable adult is indigent or, in the determination of the court, lacks capacity to waiv e the right to counsel, the court shall immediately appoint counsel who shall personally meet with t he vulnerable adult and attempt to discuss the petition or any pending motion prior to any hearing. 2. If the vulnerable adult is not in attendance at a sc heduled hearing, the court shall make a special fin ding as to why the vulnerable adult is unable to attend, and, upon the request of the vulnerable adult or t he attorney of the vulnerable adult, may continue the hearing to allow the vulnerable adult to att end. 3. If the vulnerable adult is indigent, the c ost of representation by counsel shall be borne b y court funds. 4. If the vulnerable adult is not indigent , the court may order costs of representation paid from the estate in the same manner as currently paid under the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservat orship Act. F. 1. After a hearing on the peti tion, the court may: a. appoint a temporary guardian and o rder involuntary protective services including, but not limited to, authorization for medical and/ or psychological treatment and evaluations, and resid ential placement Req. No. 365 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 subject to the provisions of s ubsection G of this section, b. issue an order freezing al l assets of the vulnerable adult, establish any new accounts necessary to pay the daily living expenses of the vulnerable adult, and order a full accounting and investigation of the person alleged to be improperly managing the vulnerable adult’s estate, c. suspend or revoke powers of attorney or terminate a guardianship or conservatorship upon a findin g that the attorney-in-fact, guardian or conservator failed to act appropriately on behalf of the vu lnerable adult, or d. order any law enforcement agency to transport any incapacitated person or vulnerable adult as necessary for appropriate care, treatmen t and residential placement. If such transportation is ordered, reimbursement for expenses incurred from the transportation of a vulnerable adult under the Department’s temporary guardianship shall be paid as provided for in Section 10 -107 of this title. 2. a. Except as otherwise provided by subparagraphs b and c of this paragraph, the court appointing a temporary guardian and ordering involuntary protective s ervices Req. No. 365 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 shall not have authority to order the sale of the real property of the vulnerable adult. b. If the Department of Human Services has been appoin ted temporary guardian and the court issues an order for the Department to continue as the temporary guar dian of the vulnerable adult beyond the one hundred eighty (180) calendar days authorized by this section because there is no one willing and able to a ct as guardian for the vulnerable adult, the De partment, as temporary guardian may, after one (1) year fr om its initial appointment, sell the real property of a vulnerable adult pursuant to the provision s of the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Ac t. c. The Department, as temporary guardian of a vulnerable adult, may also sell the real property of the vulnerable adult pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act prior to the one-year requirement specified in subpar agraph b of this paragraph, if not selling the real property would jeopardize the vulnerable adult ’s eligibility for Medicaid. The fact that the vulnerable adult would be in jeopardy for receipt of Medi caid if the property was not sold shall be stated upo n the court Req. No. 365 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 order directing the sale of the rea l property of the vulnerable adult. d. The court may issue an order authorizing the Department to sell personal property of a vulnerable adult when additional resources are required to pay for necessary care f or the vulnerable adult pursuant to state law. G. Whenever the court issues an order for involuntary protective services, the court shall adhere to the following limitations: 1. Only such protective se rvices as are necessary to remove the conditions creating the emergency shall be ordered, and the co urt shall specifically designate the approved services in the order of the court. When the conditions creating the emergency have been removed, the court s hall dismiss the temporary gua rdianship ordered pursuant to this section; 2. The scope of service provided by the Department shall be limited to protective se rvices or the establishment of eligibility for protective services for the person and estate. The Department shall request dismissal of the temporary guardianship ordered pursuant to this section when: a. an appropriate level of care for the vulnerable a dult as determined by the De partment has been established, b. assets have been secured, if applicable, and Req. No. 365 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. a representative payee or trustee has been set for financial management , if applicable; 3. Protective services authorized by an involuntary protective services order shall not include a change of residence unless the court specifically finds suc h action is necessary to remove the conditions creating the emergency and gives specific approval for such action in the order of the court. Emergency placement may be made to such facilities as nursing homes, hospital rehabilitation centers, assisted liv ing centers, foster care and in-home placements, or to other appropriate facilities for emergency care or evaluation to determine the extent of a vulnerable adult ’s physical, mental and functiona l limitations; provided, however, emergency placement shall not be made or construed as an alternativ e to emergency detention and protective custody as authorized under Section 5-206 et seq. of this title or made or construed as an alternative to involunta ry commitment under Section 5 -410 et seq. of this title when a vulnerable adult otherwise meets the c riteria for involuntary commitment. Services to such vulnerable adults shall be provided in a manner that is appropriate for the adult ’s age and condition and, except for facilities operated by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or community-based structured crisis centers under contract with the Department pursuant to Section 3 -317 of this title, services provided to vulnerable adults pursuant to this section shall be provided in a Req. No. 365 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 setting that is segregated from any patients or residents of a facility who have been determined to be a danger to others ; and 3. 4. Involuntary protective services may be provided for a period not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days except as provided by subsections L and M of this section. H. The court shall appoint the Department or an interested person or organization as temporary guardian of the person with responsibility for the welfare of such per son and authority to give consent on behalf of the person fo r the approved involuntary protective services until the expiration of the order. I. The issuance of an order for involuntary protective services and the appointment of a temporary guardian shall not deprive the vulnerable adult of any rights except to th e extent validly provided for in the order or appointment. J. 1. To enforce an order for involuntary protective services, the court may authorize: a. forcible entry of the premises of the vulner able adult to be protected for the purpose of rendering protective services but only after a reasona ble showing to the court that good faith attempts to gain voluntary access to the premises have failed and forcible entry is necessary, Req. No. 365 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. the transporting of the vulnerable adult to another location for the provisio n of involuntary services, and c. the eviction of persons who are in a position to exploit the vulnerable adult from any property owned, leased, or rented by the vulnerable adult and restriction of those persons’ further access to any property of the vulne rable adult. 2. If forcible entry is au thorized by the court, the order shall include a directive that the Department ’s representative be accompanied by a police officer or deputy sheriff in the county where the vulnerable adult or property of the vulnera ble adult is located, and the police off icer or deputy sheriff shall make the forcible entry. K. The vulnerable adult, the temporary guardian, or any interested person may petition the court to h ave the order to provide involuntary protective services set aside or modified at any time. L. If the vulnerable adult continues to need involuntary protective services after expiration of the thirty -day temporary guardianship provided in subsection G of this section, the temporary guardian shall immediately file a verified motion requesting the court to, except as otherwise provided by subsection F of this section, continue the temporary guardianship and involuntary Req. No. 365 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 protective services under this section for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) calendar days. M. 1. Service of the verified m otion shall be made in conformity with subsection C of this section. 2. Upon filing such motion, the court shall order that a physical, mental, and social evaluation of the vulnerable adult be conducted by the Depar tment and that a proposed plan of care b e submitted to the court within thirty (30) calendar days thereafter reflecting the evaluation findings and recommended services. 3. Upon filing such motio n, the prior temporary guardianship shall remain in full for ce and effect pending a review hearing a fter the thirty-day evaluation period. The caretaker, guardian or next - of-kin of the vulnerable adult may request that the evaluation period be shortened f or good cause. 4. The evaluation shall include at least the following information: a. the address of the place where the person is residing and the person or agency which is providing care, treatment, or services at present, b. a summary of the profession al treatment and services provided to the person by the Depa rtment or agency, if any, in connection with the problem creating the need for emergency protective services, and Req. No. 365 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. a medical and social evaluation , including, but not limited to, the Department ’s assessment of the person’s capacity to consent to services , a psychological or psychiatric evaluat ion and review if the mental state of the person is in question, and any recommendations for or against maintenance of partial legal rights. The evaluation and review shall include recommendations for placement base d upon the best interests of the vulnera ble adult taking into consideration the following: (1) the least restrictive environment, (2) the desires of the vulnerable adult and legal guardian, (3) the desires of the caretaker of the vulnerable adult and of any of the persons specified in Section 3-110 of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes, (4) the physical and mental health needs of the vulnerable adult, (5) the available programs and services, and (6) the health, well-being and welfare of the vulnerable adult and the public. During the hearing to co nsider the motion to continue the temporary guardianship of the vulnerable adult for up to one hundred Req. No. 365 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 eighty (180) calendar days, the court shall consider the Department’s findings and proposed plan of care and any other evidence presented by the caretake r, guardian or other interested persons. The court shall either terminate the temporary guardianship and all involuntary services or continue the temporary guardianship and specify any necessary services to be provi ded by the Department for a period not t o exceed one hundred eighty (180) calendar days. Provided, the court may continue the guardianship of the Department, if there is no one willing and able t o act as guardian for the vulnerable adult. N. Neither the Department nor any of its employees or a ny other petitioner shall be liable for filing a petition pursuant to the Protective Services for Vulnerable Adults Act if the petition was filed in good faith. SECTION 2. This act shall become effec tive November 1, 2021. 58-1-365 TEK 1/7/2021 9:37:22 AM