1.This Act may be cited as the
Guardian Accountability and Senior
Protection Act
.
<enum>I</enum><header>State court
improvement</header>
<section id="idBFFA7964AD5D49998B8D444569549DAE"><enum>101.</enum><header>Funding for
State courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to adult
guardianship and conservatorship</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Part A of title IV of the Older Americans
Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 3032 et seq.) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id9A88048590F84D8DAE142B9A19E973C5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section
411(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id523AE60A50464E21BAA2DBA05438C836"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>(including the highest court of
each State)</quote> after <quote>with States</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00EE52C67F42471AB32A1DF41E7947E6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (12),
by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id52DCDCD4279A4CC8B4AE1ED26E8ACB37"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84D82C9EF87D4CDEAD1EA29E665F4FD5"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (12) the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSJU00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id44A4BC3F62F949AF9149B1421BB417F4" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idF6649E368A9B48E5A2D4B6DCE0E8CCED"><enum>(13)</enum><text>assessing the
fairness, effectiveness, timeliness, and accessibility of adult guardianship
and conservatorship proceedings, implementing changes deemed necessary as a
result of the assessments, and collecting necessary data regarding those
proceedings and the impact of the necessary changes;
and</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE33E7DA6A1DE484B90AC25F183A9E636"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="deleted" committee-id="SSJU00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6A8ED0B61B5B4C46B577EE8225FED246" reported-display-style="strikethrough" style="OLC">
<section id="idF510B9BD01AF44949EB94D8DFACB1E38"><enum>423.</enum><header>Funding for
State courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to adult
guardianship and conservatorship</header>
<subsection id="id3BA68759E9B54CEB8804843F19A2359D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the
Attorney General, shall make grants, in accordance with this section, to the
highest court of a State for the purpose of enabling such a court, in
collaboration with the State unit on aging—</text>
<paragraph id="ID15488abdb3d14c52b1a80da0d58e1839"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to conduct
assessments, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall
publish, of the role, responsibilities, and effectiveness of State courts in
carrying out State laws requiring proceedings (conducted by or under the
supervision of the courts)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID712b6078f5f44660b2c011e29e78376f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that determine
whether to impose a full, limited, or temporary adult guardianship or
conservatorship;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDe165b2cdd36d468d8e48d0dc0250525c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that select a
guardian of a person or conservator of an estate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID981de5de001644f68c5041b065467b38"><enum>(C)</enum><text>that review the
continued need for a full, limited, or temporary guardianship or
conservatorship of an adult; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID638662b5fe2547609745b4b5ddb655a1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>that review the
performance of a person appointed as guardian or conservator for an
adult;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDbc4a2223e50e4a508166c0632504a263"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to implement
changes deemed necessary as a result of the assessments; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDd3a60004368347c697f70b5403e32dcd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to collect data
regarding those proceedings and the impact of the necessary changes.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID297aedab03784312b43f94b374d9a891"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>In
order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a highest State court
shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an application at such time, in such
form, and including such information and assurances as the Assistant Secretary
shall require.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7707e93d10e444ffa6619afc9bc0fc3c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Allotments</header><text>Each
highest State court which has an application approved under subsection (b), and
is conducting assessment activities in accordance with this section, may
receive a grant from the Assistant Secretary, for each of fiscal years 2012
through 2015, from amounts appropriated to carry out section 411, in an amount
to be determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDc1c7ded4e27a46419f3c2bb225c07015"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of grant
funds</header><text>Each highest State court which receives funds under this
section may use such funds to pay—</text>
<paragraph id="IDd5dab147d0b44c2abc324b5bc0f5695c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any or all costs
of activities under this section in fiscal year 2012; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb0b71780f4c1471bb89ff2dedf83cd86"><enum>(2)</enum><text>not more than 75
percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years
2013, 2014, and
2015.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Background
checks</header>
<section id="id0A3C901747AB4DA898A7D427AB809074"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="ID9ff859a2c56e4eb7bd53e06a3fdf0857"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Adverse
information</header><text>The term <term>adverse information</term>
means—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDb315fdff4ab64b6da009a0335f6f5d4e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>information from a
criminal history background check that indicates that the individual has been
convicted of a relevant crime;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDb2ab4dfb60fc410693274f5b1c61d1e1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>information that
the individual has been judicially determined to have committed abuse,
abandonment, neglect, or financial or sexual exploitation of a child, spouse,
or other adult; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc534b7a987f2440fafe3049a1f23e405"><enum>(C)</enum><text>information from
an adult or child abuse registry that indicates that the individual is included
in an adult or child abuse registry.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDa2211cac61fa498eb7b1051fbb10c6a5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conservator</header><text>The
term <term>conservator</term> means an individual who is appointed by a court
under applicable State law to manage the estate of a protected person. Such
definition shall not apply to—</text>
<subparagraph id="idAAE56259E3974D29A13620FE02998BB3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a bank with trust
powers, bank and trust company, or trust company organized under the laws of
any State or of the United States and which is regulated by the commissioner of
commerce or a Federal regulator; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id592ED365B8F841EA88246734A7ADE53A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a credit union,
savings and loan, or other financial institution.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID66d66df25f65433486b6f43bcfc3c412"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Guardian</header><text>The
term <term>guardian</term> means an individual who is appointed by a court to
protect an incapacitated individual’s personal or financial welfare.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb39f82e15fde4e38be88cd76cea2173b"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Protected
person</header><text>The term <term>protected person</term> means an adult whom
the court determines in a guardian or conservatorship proceeding is unable to
manage property and accounts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7c4a7f0194b44854aab300d81b968bdc"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Relevant
crime</header><text>The term <term>Relevant crime</term> includes any felony or
misdemeanor conviction for abuse, neglect, fraud, misappropriation,
misrepresentation, theft, conversion, or other financial crime, or such other
types of offenses as a participating highest court of a State may specify for
purposes of conducting the pilot program in such State.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID4d37f0fdcaf1428bad9cb2d8d3d5f7ce"><enum>202.</enum><header>Pilot program
for national and State background checks of guardians and conservators</header>
<subsection id="IDa5b5d91fddcc4f15a0c32ec4cf1c0c51"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To
conduct program</header><text>The Attorney General, shall establish a pilot
program to identify efficient, effective, and economical procedures for State
courts to conduct background checks on prospective guardians and
conservators.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID632a71d6b3d8466da7cb5fcd5e1675d1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header>
<paragraph id="IDbb8e51e8095a4bd292e40e2f947073cf"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement to
conduct background checks</header><text>Under the pilot program under
subsection (a), a State court, prior to appointing a prospective guardian or
conservator on or after the commencement date of the State pilot program, shall
conduct a background check on the guardian or conservator in accordance with
such procedures as the participating State shall establish pursuant to
paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID723034e6cb15423e8bb75f498a585701"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>The
procedures established by a participating highest State court under paragraph
(1) shall be designed to—</text>
<subparagraph id="idDFD035D366DE42AF9A0265D8B099DB8C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide a
prospective guardian or conservator with notice that the appointing court is
required to perform background checks with respect to prospective guardians or
conservators;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7B2BCFF34BBE44F28FA144F9189A3BBB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require, as a
condition of appointment, that the prospective guardian or conservator—</text>
<clause id="id7D59F2D723DA453EA2911EF521421EF1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>provide a
statement signed by the prospective guardian or conservator authorizing the
appointing court to request national and State criminal history background
checks;</text>
</clause><clause id="idB410C89FABCA4638A22E412EF7AFCF1A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide the
appointing court with a set of the prospective guardian's or conservator’s
fingerprints; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID454d6b5871db48119074870992da81aa"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide
information as to whether the individual has been suspended or disbarred from
law, accounting, or other professional licensing for misconduct involving
financial matters that affect the ability of the individual to provide the
services of a guardian or conservator safely and competently;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD8C04855C2A14287B5FC4F7CE002503B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>permit the courts
to check any available State and national registries that would be likely to
contain adverse information concerning a prospective guardian or conservator;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id432F17CDCB7846E89DB54DA60EB30F8E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>permit the courts
hearing guardian or conservatorship matters to obtain State and national
criminal history background checks on the prospective guardian or
conservator.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID3520138871ee4cd5acefdd01fa0d2660"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consideration of
information</header><text>Prior to appointing an individual with respect to
whom adverse information is available as a guardian or conservator under a
program under this title, the appointing court shall consider the nature of the
information or offense involved, the date of any offense, and evidence of the
proposed guardian's or conservator’s rehabilitation and determine whether the
individual’s appointment is in the best interest of the protected
person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2b439a73df804f7bb5c81dcfaa160c9d"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use of
information; immunity from liability</header><text>A participating highest
State court shall ensure that information obtained about the prospective
guardian or conservator pursuant to a background check conducted under the
State supreme court pilot program is used only for the purpose of determining
the suitability of the prospective guardian or conservator for
appointment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDba7a802fa3bc4b9eaa3dc4f5cd17652d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Participating
States</header>
<paragraph id="ID1778dcff87a64178a6c41461091e78d7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Attorney General shall enter into agreements with not
more than 5 States to conduct the pilot program under this section in such
States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6ff07228f0f743369a357f2cdc1f94de"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>An
agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall require that a participating
highest State court—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6ABF7B2815D144E186609CE6CCDA97C2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>be responsible for
monitoring compliance with the requirements of the pilot program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id494C8FBB9635484F9EFB4B713FD701A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have procedures by
which a prospective guardian or conservator may appeal or dispute the accuracy
of the information obtained in a background check, including consideration of
the nature of the information or offense involved, the date of offense, and the
evidence of the prospective guardian's or conservator’s rehabilitation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3452A9D4488643449CB6D03A4A2CAF43"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish
procedures requiring the courts hearing guardian or conservatorship matters to
request criminal history background checks of prospective guardians or
conservators and review the results of any State or national criminal history
background check regarding a prospective guardian or conservator to determine
whether the prospective guardian or conservator has any conviction for a
relevant crime;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID676c0844249742a4946da04d7598c9a9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>keep data on the
background checks performed to be readily accessible for the evaluation;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58630FF749A244FD87BAA60F003677A7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>agree to obtain
from the State, non-Federal contributions, in cash or in-kind, toward the costs
of carrying out the pilot program in an amount equal to not less than $1 for
each $4 of Federal funds provided to the court under this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID0ea86dcf113d47f6bcbf73b82adb4eb4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application and
selection criteria</header>
<subparagraph id="ID8a7347b4cd3f4ce5b44718a2eaf8a9f0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The
highest State court seeking to participate in the pilot program established
under this section, shall submit an application to the Attorney General
containing such information and at such time as the Attorney General may
specify.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID627eaafdccc04b63bee61cedcddfe425"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Selection
criteria</header>
<clause id="ID7e25a73e537d4abaadcdef263aaed337"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In selecting highest State court to participate in the
pilot program under this section, the Attorney General shall establish criteria
to ensure—</text>
<subclause id="id03DC67B9153544D295DAA0673703167C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>geographic
diversity;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idA8ABEFC9AC964B5AA493F0971A5FE3E6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the consideration
of a variety of payment mechanisms for covering the costs of conducting the
background checks required under the pilot program; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id1D8A694D8CBB426CAFE461186111F4BC"><enum>(III)</enum><text>that at least
one participating highest State court includes protected person abuse
prevention training for prospective guardians or conservators as part of the
pilot program conducted in that State.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDf563bfc878e840dbaf0199bdf0409ddc"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Inclusion of
States with existing programs</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be
construed as prohibiting any State which, as of the date of the enactment of
this Act, has procedures for conducting background checks with respect to the
appointment of guardians or conservators from being selected to participate in
the pilot program conducted under this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8e8655d48ea94125a9253c8c56f5a01e"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payments</header><text>Of
the amounts made available under subsection (f) to conduct the pilot program
under this section, the Attorney General shall—</text>
<paragraph id="idA793BD9B0A7F4D9E883143C7E3AD15EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>make payments to
participating highest State courts for the costs of conducting the pilot
program in such States which may include the administration of the pilot
program, staffing, the cost of background checks, and other purposes as
determined by the Attorney General; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEBF3F04F600748D7B6B7ECE49824B489"><enum>(2)</enum><text>reserve up to 4
percent of such amounts to conduct the evaluation required under subsection
(e).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID24ebde752d454ac096473ea14c013f43"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>The
Attorney General shall, through grant, contract, or interagency agreement,
conduct an evaluation of the pilot program conducted under this section. Such
evaluation should—</text>
<paragraph id="id3ADD0D0417964216AD560C2E14252299"><enum>(1)</enum><text>review the various
procedures implemented by participating highest State courts for the conduct of
background checks of prospective guardians or conservators and identify the
most efficient, effective, and economical procedures for conducting such
background checks;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id82BD3C9F9B074C64BCE2BC973B543B0B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assess the costs
of conducting such background checks (including start-up and administrative
costs);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id794DCB816FB24952B752ADBA40978F1A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>consider the
benefits and disadvantages associated with requiring prospective guardians or
conservators to pay the costs of conducting such background checks;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE9C919CD6BE442CEAB93627DBC69DF51"><enum>(4)</enum><text>determine the
extent to which conducting such background checks leads to any unintended
consequences, including a reduction in the available guardians or conservators
or delay and backlogs in processing appointments;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID02baf1f76a30468d94fab5aa173646b2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to the extent
feasible, seek to determine the efficacy of the pilot program in reducing abuse
of protected persons and their estate by guardians or conservators; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB66AB01F6AFD4A869983C6D2E11205A5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>include other
elements that would bear on the usefulness and effectiveness of the
program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID7cedd760252743f7988ea65052513350"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out the
pilot program under this section, such sums as may be necessary for the period
of fiscal years 2012 through 2015.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>E-File</header>
<section id="id96DA97405453406F983E909484F4C347"><enum>301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="id5E6FE57872BF4C7AB7D9B4FA1E6EDDF0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Adult</header><text>The
term <term>adult</term> means an individual who is 18 years of age or
older.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFCC815CCE9F24891A3DC7B02192B7A44"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conservator</header><text>The
term <term>conservator</term> means an individual who is appointed by a court
under applicable State law to manage the estate of a protected person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8C8A90E6601D41739F2F779E5C979E1C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exploitation</header><text>The
term <term>exploitation</term> means the fraudulent or otherwise illegal,
unauthorized, or improper act or process of a conservator that uses the
resources of a protected person for the conservator's monetary or personal
benefit, profit, or gain, or that results in depriving a protected person of
rightful access to, or use of, benefits, resources, belongings, services or
assets.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7C6E547798AA45038231868F3A88E43C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Guardian</header><text>The
term <term>guardian</term> means an individual who is appointed by a court to
protect an incapacitated individual’s personal or financial welfare.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1213C2243B344B3A8F2F168DF0BDE1C1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Highest State
court</header><text>The term <term>highest State court</term> means the highest
appellate court within a State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id958525E944F948BDB11BAF5954E30690"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Protected
person</header><text>The term <term>protected person</term> means an adult whom
the court determines in a guardian or conservatorship proceeding is unable to
manage property and accounts.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idFFE8F25FC993400ABCC11984DC8EA358"><enum>302.</enum><header>Conservator
monitoring grant program</header>
<subsection id="IDe2d605769ce24172a05916f4c7f4f305"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants</header>
<paragraph id="ID6080583fbea34b9f9ada79cd0dfe8a26"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The State Justice Institute, pursuant to the authority
provided in the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10701 et seq.),
may award grants to eligible highest State courts to assist in improving
conservator monitoring efforts through electronic filing.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID47281a5b7b574abcbdfc874ecc10a8c6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>Grants
awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not to exceed 3
years.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDb86637330c2a4f75bfcae4417269f596"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header>
<paragraph id="ID5fc129aad2774f6e885dd4c1e8997b7c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Amounts received under a grant awarded under subsection
(a) shall be used to implement and evaluate the impact of systems enabling the
annual accountings and other required conservatorship filings to be completed,
filed, reviewed, and analyzed electronically in order to simplify the filing
process for conservators and better enable the courts to identify discrepancies
and detect fraud and exploitation of protected persons.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID353a7bd70ea043538c098059bdd2a284"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Allocation</header><text>A
highest State court that receives a grant under this section shall prioritize
the use of the grant funds so as to assist the greatest number of conservators
and protect the greatest number of protected persons.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDb98667b11f8845dd919ca5ee7f05c050"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><text>A
highest State court desiring a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall submit an
application to the State Justice Institute at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the State Justice Institute may
require.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78db58d575db4b7e903c98c706d6bbee" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated to the State Justice Institute to carry out the
activities under this title, such sums as may be necessary for the period of
fiscal years 2012 through 2015.</text>
</section>
1.This Act may be cited as the
Guardian Accountability and Senior
Protection Act
.
2.Assessment and
improvement of rules and procedures relating to adult guardianships and
conservatorshipsSection 411
of the Older Americans Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 3032) is amended—
(1)in subsection (a)—
(A)in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by inserting (including the highest court of each
State)
after with States
;
(B)in paragraph (12), by
striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon;
(C)by redesignating
paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
(D)by inserting after
paragraph (12) the following:
(13)in accordance with
subsection (c), assessing the fairness, effectiveness, timeliness, safety,
integrity, and accessibility of adult guardianship and conservatorship
proceedings, including the appointment and the monitoring of the performance of
guardians and conservators, and implementing changes deemed necessary as a
result of the assessments; and
;
and
(2)by inserting at the end
the following:
(c)Adult guardianships and
conservatorships
(1)
(A)In awarding grants or contracts under subsection (a)(13),
the Assistant Secretary shall obtain feedback from the State Justice Institute
in accordance with subparagraph (B) and may consult with the Attorney General,
and such grants or contracts shall otherwise comply with this
subsection.
(B)The Assistant Secretary shall submit to the State
Justice Institute recommendations for the awarding of grants or contracts under
subsection (a)(13). The Institute shall have 60 days in which to submit to the
Assistant Secretary the response of the Institute to such recommendations. The
Assistant Secretary shall consider such response prior to awarding such grants
or contracts.
(2)Grants may be awarded under subsection (a)(13) to the
highest court of each State for the purpose of enabling such court, in
collaboration with the State unit on aging and State adult protective service
agency—
(A)to conduct assessments of
the practices and procedures used to—
(i)determine whether to
impose a full, limited, or temporary adult guardianship or
conservatorship;
(ii)select a guardian of a
person or conservator of an estate;
(iii)review the continued
need for a full, limited, or temporary guardianship or conservatorship of an
adult; and
(iv)review the performance
of guardians or conservators;
(B)to implement changes
deemed necessary as a result of the assessments; and
(C)to collect data regarding
those practices and procedures and the impact of the necessary changes.
(3)The
amount of a grant under subsection (a)(13) shall be determined by the Assistant
Secretary, in consultation with the State Justice Institute and the Attorney
General (if the Assistance Secretary determines appropriate).
(4)The Assistant
Secretary shall set aside 25 percent of amounts made available for grants under
this subsection in each fiscal year to enable courts to implement or improve
systems to conduct background checks on prospective guardians and conservators.
Such systems shall comply with the following requirements:
(A)At minimum, the
background checks shall include national and State criminal background checks,
a search of child abuse and adult abuse registries, and a search as to whether
the individual has been suspended or disbarred from law, accounting, or other
professional licensing for misconduct.
(B)The court shall consider
all of the information obtained from the background check to determine whether
such an individual is sufficiently trustworthy to be a guardian or conservator
and that the appointment of such individual is in the best interest of the
protected person.
(C)The information obtained
from the background check shall only be used for the purpose of determining the
suitability of the prospective guardian or conservator for appointment.
(5)Funds received
pursuant to subsection (a)(13) may be used to implement systems enabling the
annual accountings and other required conservatorship and guardianship filings
to be completed, filed, and reviewed electronically in order to simplify the
filing process for conservators and guardians, and better enable the courts to
identify discrepancies and detect fraud and the exploitation of protected
persons.
(6)The Assistant Secretary, in consultation
with the Attorney General and the State Justice Institute, shall conduct an
evaluation of the improvements made by courts to which this subsection applies,
and prepare and submit a report concerning such evaluation to Congress within
18 months of the date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection
(a)(13), and a second report 18 months later, and shall use and distribute the
reports and evaluations as the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the
Attorney General and the State Justice Institute, determines appropriate in
order to improve guardianships and conservatorships
nationwide.
.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to enable State courts to assess and improve the rules and
procedures relating to adult guardianships and
conservatorships.
.
July 12, 2012
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the
title