NC S813

Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services must collaborate with the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop a plan requiring face-to-face observation or interviews with wards under publicly funded guardians' care, conducted by individuals with relevant experience.

Division of Social Services shall study conflicts of interest in child welfare cases related to public guardianship, considering solutions such as internal firewalls, inter-county referral systems, corporate guardianship alternatives, departmental case assumption, or legislative changes to clerk appointment authority.

Division of Aging and Adult Services must consult with clerks of superior court, managed care organizations, and the North Carolina Bar Association to develop a model plan for transitioning wards to alternative guardianship arrangements when individual guardians become unable or unwilling to serve, prioritizing prevention of public guardian appointments.

Department shall continue studying whether care coordination services would provide adequate oversight to prevent conflicts of interest when guardians operate as paid service providers.

Department must submit final findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and Fiscal Research Division by October 1, 2014.