Incapacitated persons; changes to provisions of guardianship and conservatorship.

Guardianship and conservatorship of incapacitated persons. Makes several changes to the provisions of adult guardianships and conservatorships, including (i) adding certain powers and duties to the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to provide support and guidance with respect to private guardianships, including developing and providing training for such guardians; (ii) requiring a guardian ad litem appointed to represent a respondent to a guardianship proceeding to notify the court as soon as practicable if the respondent requests counsel regardless of whether the guardian ad litem recommends counsel; (iii) requiring the notice of hearing on a guardianship or conservatorship petition to include notice that any adult individual required to receive a copy of such notice may file a motion to intervene in the action to become a party and request to be appointed as guardian or conservator or offer an alternative to the guardian or conservator selected; (iv) requiring a schedule for periodic review hearings in the order of appointment of a guardian or conservator to be set by a court, unless the court makes a determination that such hearings are unnecessary or impracticable, and specifying circumstances under which such review hearings shall not be waived; (v) requiring guardians and staff employed or contracted by such guardian to perform guardianship duties on behalf of the guardians to complete training within four months of the date of entry of the initial order of appointment; and (vi) providing that a guardian shall not restrict an incapacitated person's ability to communicate with, visit, or interact with other persons with whom the incapacitated person has an established relationship unless such restriction is necessary to prevent physical, mental, or emotional harm to or financial exploitation of the incapacitated person; the bill further requires that the guardian must provide written notice to any restricted person stating (a) the nature and terms of the restriction, (b) the reasons why the guardian believes the restriction is necessary, and (c) how the restricted person may challenge such restriction in court. The bill sets up a procedure by which a person whose visit, communication with, or interaction with an incapacitated person has been restricted may challenge such restriction in court, and provides that if the court finds that the claim of a restricted person who filed a motion to challenge such restriction was brought in bad faith, the court may require the restricted person to pay or reimburse the guardian all or some of the his costs and fees, including attorney fees.