This bill establishes a new section in the law regarding guardianship contracted services, specifically aimed at assisting older adults and adults with disabilities in transitioning from hospital settings to less restrictive environments. It allows hospitals, when all other resources have been exhausted, to seek the appointment of a guardian or conservator through the probate court for individuals who require an alternative decision-maker, are deemed incapacitated, and cannot secure guardianship services through other means. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with contracting the office of the public guardian to provide publicly funded guardianship slots for these individuals, with the availability of such slots contingent on funding.

Additionally, the bill appropriates a total of $4.434 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to create new contract guardian slots and adjust rates for individuals served under various statutes. Specifically, it allocates $550,000 for 50 publicly funded guardianship slots and $3,884,000 for creating new contract guardian slots and adjusting rates for existing services. The bill also amends existing law to ensure that rates for guardianship services are sufficient to cover contractor costs, thereby enhancing access to public guardianship services for those in need. The act is set to take effect on September 30, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 161-F:52, 547-B:6