HB19-1045 Summary

• Removes the requirement that the Office of Public Guardianship receive $1.7 million in gifts, grants, and donations before the commission appoints a director.

• Extends the sunset date for the Office of Public Guardianship from June 30, 2021 to December 31, 2023, with a requirement that if the legislature adjourns in January 2023 without continuing or expanding the office, it must implement its discontinuation plan.

• Mandates that upon receiving sufficient funding, the office must begin operations in the second judicial district before operating in any other district.

• Adds dedicated funding sources for the Office of Public Guardianship by allocating portions of various court fees (probate, jury, foreign judgment, and public administrator fees) into the Office of Public Guardianship cash fund.

• Appropriates $835,386 for the 2019-20 fiscal year to the judicial department for office operations ($427,000 from general fund, $408,386 from the public guardianship cash fund) and $50,000 to the Department of Law for legal services.