SB 2224 Summary

• Creates a new guardianship procedure for minors who will become incapacitated adults at age 18, allowing petitions when a child reaches age 17.5 and using adult guardianship procedures with preference for the person holding legal decisionmaking authority at that time.

• Expands the definition of "visitor" in guardianship proceedings to include individuals trained in nursing, social work, medical care, mental health care, or rehabilitation who conduct interviews and submit written reports assessing the proposed guardian and ward's capacity.

• Permits emergency guardianship orders to be extended for up to 90 additional days upon good cause shown, with a hearing required within 10 days and no further extensions allowed.

• Modifies guardianship termination and modification procedures to allow informal written requests and require courts to consider whether the ward remains incapacitated or incapacitated to the same extent, with proceedings to safeguard ward rights.

• Establishes that guardians with financial authority shall (rather than may) receive money for the ward's support and creates detailed factors for courts to consider when determining reasonable guardian compensation and reimbursement from the ward's estate.