S.B. No. 667

	AN ACT
	relating to establishing a guardianship compliance program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 72, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER G.  GUARDIANSHIP COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
	Sec. 72.121.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1)  "Guardianship proceeding" has the meaning
	assigned by Section 1002.015, Estates Code.
	(2)  "Program" means the guardianship compliance
	program established by this subchapter.
	Sec. 72.122.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.  (a)  The office
	shall establish and maintain a guardianship compliance program
	designed to provide additional resources and assistance to courts
	that have jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings by:
	(1)  engaging guardianship compliance specialists who
	shall:
	(A)  review the guardianships of wards and
	identify reporting deficiencies by guardians;
	(B)  audit annual accounts required to be filed by
	guardians under Chapter 1163, Estates Code, or other law and report
	their findings to the appropriate courts;
	(C)  work with courts to develop best practices in
	managing guardianship cases; and
	(D)  report any concerns relating to a ward's
	well-being or to the potential financial exploitation of a ward
	discovered as a result of the specialists' work under this section
	to the appropriate courts; and
	(2)  maintaining an electronic database to monitor
	filings of:
	(A)  inventories, appraisements, and lists of
	claims required under Chapter 1154, Estates Code, or Section
	1203.203, Estates Code;
	(B)  annual reports required under Section
	1163.101, Estates Code; and
	(C)  any other reports and accounts required of
	guardians under Chapter 1163, Estates Code, or other law.
	(b)  A court is required to participate in the program,
	including allowing guardianship compliance specialists to conduct
	reviews and audits under the program, if the court is selected by
	the office to participate in the program.
	(c)  A court may apply to the office in the manner and form
	prescribed by the office for participation in the program.
	Sec. 72.123.  NOTIFICATION OF STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL
	CONDUCT.  The director may notify the State Commission on Judicial
	Conduct in writing if the office has reason to believe that a
	judge's actions or failure to act with respect to a report received
	from a guardianship compliance specialist indicating a concern
	described by Section 72.122(a)(1)(D) constitutes judicial
	misconduct.
	Sec. 72.124.  ANNUAL REPORT.  Not later than January 1 of
	each year, the office shall submit a report to the legislature
	regarding the performance of the program. The report must include:
	(1)  the number of courts involved in the program;
	(2)  the number of guardianships reviewed by
	guardianship compliance specialists;
	(3)  the number of reviewed guardianship cases found to
	be out of compliance with statutory reporting requirements;
	(4)  the number of cases reported to a court because of
	concerns relating to a ward's well-being or to the potential
	financial exploitation of a ward; and
	(5)  the status of any technology developed to monitor
	guardianship cases for purposes of the program.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 667 passed the Senate on
	April 3, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 667 passed the House on
	May 17, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 129, Nays 13, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor