Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB199 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 12/30/2024

                             
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
SENATE BILL 199 	By: Dossett 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to guardianship; amending 30 O.S. 
2021, Section 1-114, which relates to powers of 
court; authorizing court to require ce rtain training; 
amending 30 O.S. 2021, Sections 3 -104, 3-111, and 3-
112, which relate to appointment of guardian or 
limited guardian; requiring verification of 
completion of certain training to be submitted to 
court; requiring completion of certain trainin g prior 
to appointment as guardian for certain persons; 
authorizing certain wa iver by court; requiring 
Department of Human Services to maintain certain 
list; updating statutory language; updating statutory 
references; and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     30 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -114, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1-114.  A.  In all cases the court making the 
appointment of a guardian has ex clusive jurisdiction to control such 
guardian in the management and dispositio n of the person and 
property of the ward.   
 
 
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B.  The court has jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings, 
and has the following powers, which must be exercised in the manner 
prescribed by statute, to: 
1.  Appoint and remove guardians for minors and for 
incapacitated and partially incapacitated persons; 
2.  Compel any applicant for guardian for a proposed ward 
diagnosed with a neurological condition such as Alzheimer ’s disease, 
dementia, or other similar developmental disability to complete 
prerequisite training; 
3. Issue and revoke letters of guardianship; 
3. 4. Control the conduct of guardians with regard to the care 
and treatment provided to their wards; 
4. 5. Control the conduct of guardians with regard to the 
management of the financial resources of their wards, including , but 
not limited to, the power to: 
a. compel guardians to submit plans, reports, inventories 
and accountings to the court, 
b. compel payment and delivery by g uardians of property 
belonging to their wards, 
c. order the payment of debts, the sale of property, and 
order and regulate the distribution of property which 
has been placed under the control or management of a 
guardian, and 
d. settle the accounts of guard ians;   
 
 
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5. 6. Appoint appraisers of the property of wards; 
6. 7. Compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of 
documents and property; 
7. 8. After a petition has been filed for appointment of a 
guardian for a minor, make or modify any temporary order of 
guardianship during the progress of the proceedings that would be in 
the best interest of the ward.  Any such temporary order may be 
entered ex parte with written notice sent to all parties directing 
them to appear before the court, at a time and place therein 
specified, not more than twenty (20) days from the time of making 
such order, to show cause why the order should not be granted for 
temporary guardianship; and 
8. 9. Exercise all powers conferred by the Oklahoma 
Guardianship and Conservator ship Act, Section 1-101 et seq. of this 
title, and to make such orders as may be necessary for the exercise 
of said such powers. 
C.  The chief judge of each district court shall establish by 
court rule a system for: 
1.  The filing of guardianship and conse rvatorship cases and 
records which distinguish them from probate cases; and 
2.  Monitoring the filing of annual reports and inventories 
required by this title for the purpose of assuring that the court 
will be notified of annual reports as they fall due an d whether or 
not said such reports are filed.   
 
 
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SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     30 O.S. 2021, Section 3 -104, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 3-104.  A.  The following priorities shall guide the 
selection by the court of a guardian or l imited guardian of an 
incapacitated or partially incapacitated person from among those 
eligible: 
1.  The individual or individuals nominated by the subject of 
the proceeding pursuant to Section 3 -102 of this title; 
2.  The current guardian or limited guard ian appointed or 
recognized by the appropriate court of any other jurisdiction in 
which the incapacitated or partially incapacitated person resides; 
3.  An individual nominated by the will or by other writing of a 
deceased parent, spouse, or an adult child who was serving as the 
guardian or limited guardian of the subject of the proceeding; 
4.  The spouse of the subject of the proceeding; 
5.  An adult child of the subject of the proceeding; 
6.  A parent of the subject of the proceeding; 
7.  A sibling of the subject of the proceeding; 
8.  Any individual approved by the court with whom the subject 
of the proceeding has been living for more than six (6) months prior 
to the filing of the petition.  Provided , that any owner, operator, 
administrator or employee of a facility subject to the provisions of 
the Nursing Home Care Act, the Residential Home Care Act or the 
Group Homes for the Developmentally Disabled or Physically   
 
 
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Handicapped Persons Act Persons with Developmental or Physical 
Disabilities Act shall not be appointed guardian or limited guardian 
of a resident of such facility unless the owner, operator, 
administrator or employee is the spouse of the resident, or a 
relative of the resident within the second degree of consanguinity 
and is otherwise eligible fo r appointment; or 
9.  If applicable, an individual volunteer qualified for 
appointment as a guardian of a veteran pursuant to the Veterans 
Volunteer Guardianship Act. 
B.  When the guardian or limited guardian of an incapacitated or 
partially incapacitated person is the guardian of property only, the 
court may appoint an organization which is eligible to manage the 
financial resources of an individual and has fiduciary powers, or 
its successor in interest, when: 
1.  Such organization is nominated by the subj ect of the 
proceeding pursuant to Section 3 -102 of this title; 
2.  Such organization is nominated by a person eligible to make 
such nomination pursuant to Section 3 -103 of this title; or 
3.  The appointment of such organization is in the best interest 
of the subject of the proceeding. 
C.  The court shall make reasonable inquiry to d etermine whether 
the person or organization proposed to serve as the guardian or 
limited guardian of an incapacitated or partially incapacitated 
person is suitable and will exerc ise the powers and carry out the   
 
 
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duties and responsibilities of guardian or limited guardian in the 
best interest of the ward.  For any guardianship for which the court 
orders completion of training pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection 
B of Section 1-114 of this title, the court shall require 
verification or attestation of completi on of prerequisite training 
specific to the needs of the ward to be filed in the case or 
submitted to the court prior to appointment of the guardian, unless 
waived by the court.  The court shall also inquire of the proposed 
guardian of the person of the ward as to how the guardian proposes 
to provide for the care of the ward, and of the proposed guardian of 
the estate of the ward as to how the guardian proposes to manage the 
property of the ward and to provide for the ward ’s financial care.  
The court shall make such orders with respect thereto as the court 
deems to be for the best interest of the ward. 
D.  A public agency shall not be appointed to serve as guardian 
for an adult except as provided in Section 1415 of Title 10 and 
Section 10-108 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes. 
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     30 O.S. 2021, Section 3 -111, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 3-111.  A.  At the hearing on the pet ition the court 
shall determine whether or not it is necessary to appoint a gu ardian 
of the person, property or both.  If a guardian is needed, the court 
shall determine:   
 
 
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1.  When a general or limited guardian of the person of the 
subject of the proceeding is requested, the essential requirements 
for the health and safety of the subject of the proceeding and the 
skills and knowledge necessary to meet those requirements; 
2.  When a general or limited guardian of the property of the 
subject of the proceeding is requested, the type and amount of the 
financial resources of the subject of the proceeding, the essential 
requirements for managing the financial resources and the skills and 
knowledge necessary to manage the financial resources; 
3.  The nature and exte nt of the incapacity of the subject of 
the proceeding, if any; and 
4.  Whether by clear and convincing evidence the subject of the 
proceeding is an incapacitated or partially incapacitated person. 
B.  If after a full hearing and examination upon such petit ion, 
the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the subject of 
the proceeding is an incapacitated or partially incapacitated 
person, the court shall determine the extent of the incapacity and 
the feasibility of less restrictive alternatives to g uardianship to 
meet the needs of the subject of the proceeding.  Upon such 
determination, the court may: 
1.  Dismiss the action if the court finds that less restrictive 
alternatives to guardianship are feasible and adequate to meet the 
needs of the subject of the proceeding; or   
 
 
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2.  Appoint a guardian or limited guardian who has completed any 
prerequisite training specific to the needs of the ward ordered 
pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection B of Section 1 -114 of this 
title, unless waived by the court .  An order making such an 
appointment shall include a specific finding that it was established 
by clear and convincing evidence that the identified needs of the 
subject of the proceeding require a guardianship instead of less 
restrictive alternatives. 
C.  Guardianship for an incapacitated person shall be: 
1.  Used only as is necessary to promote and protect the well -
being of the person and his or her property; 
2.  Designed to encourage the development of maximum self -
reliance and independence of the person; and 
3.  Ordered only to the extent required by the actual mental, 
physical and adaptive limitations of the person. 
SECTION 4.     AMENDATORY     30 O.S. 2021, Section 3 -112, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 3-112.  A.  Whenever the cour t finds the subject of the 
proceeding to be an incapacitated person the court shall appoint: 
1.  A general guardian of the person; and 
2.  As the court determines to be necessary and appropriate, a 
guardian of the property of the ward.   
 
 
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B.  Whenever the cou rt finds the subject of the proceeding to be 
a partially incapacitated person the court shall appoint, as 
necessary and appropriate for said the person: 
1.  A limited guardian of the person; or 
2.  A general or a limited guardian of the property of said the 
person; or 
3.  A limited guardian of the person and a general or limited 
guardian of the property of said the person. 
C.  The court may appoint the same or separate persons to serve 
as guardian or limited guardian of the person and guardian or 
limited guardian of the property of a ward. 
D.  Unless waived by the court, any person who is to serve as a 
guardian or limited guardian of the person or the property of a ward 
whom the court finds to be an incapacitated or partially 
incapacitated adult due to a dia gnosed neurological condition such 
as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other similar developmental 
disability shall submit verification or attestation of completion of 
prerequisite training.  Such training shall be specific to assisting 
persons with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or similar neurological 
conditions including , but not limited to, understanding Alzheimer ’s 
disease, communication techniques, and resources available for care 
if the ward is over sixty (60) years of age, or earlier if the 
person is diagnosed with such a condition.   
 
 
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E.  A list of approved training programs s hall be maintained by 
the Department of Human Services.  Programs not included on the list 
must be submitted for approval to the Department prior to 
guardianship determination. 
SECTION 5.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 
 
60-1-463 TEK 12/30/2024 3:01:20 PM