CO SB026

Guardians cannot restrict a protected person's right to communication, visitation, or interaction with others (including visits, phone calls, and mail) unless authorized by court order.

Courts may restrict communications with a protected person upon showing of good cause, considering factors including protective orders, charges against the person, the protected person's expressed wishes, and advance directives.

Interested persons, including the protected person, may petition the court to require access, restrict access, modify guardian duties, or remove the guardian if isolation violations occur.

Guardians must promptly notify closest family members and designated persons when a protected person changes residence, stays away for more than 7 days, is admitted to medical facilities for acute/emergency care, or dies.

Appropriates $520,677 to the judicial department for 2016-17 (including $390,701 for trial court programs with 4.8 additional FTE and $129,976 for courthouse capital and infrastructure maintenance).