Budget Amendment ID: FY2019-S4-1010-R1

Redraft JUD 1010

Establishment of Special Commission to Study Adult Guardianship

Ms. Creem, Messrs. Brownsberger, Moore and Barrett, Ms. L'Italien, Ms. Gobi, Messrs. O'Connor and Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting, after section 56, the following section:-

“SECTION 56A. There shall be a special commission to study adult guardianship and conservatorship practices in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the house and senate chairs of the committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services; the chief justice of the probate and family court; 1 representative from each of the following organizations: AARP Massachusetts, The ARC of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association, National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts, Mass Home Care, Disability Law Center, Inc., Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc., Center for Public Representation, Inc.; 1 person who shall be a member of Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, Inc.; 1 person who shall be a member of the committee for public counsel services who practices guardianship or disability law; 1 person who shall be a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Massachusetts who practices guardianship law; 1 person who shall be an employee of Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. who practices guardianship or disability law; 1 person who shall be a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society; 1 person who shall be a competency-expert faculty member or equivalent at the Harvard Medical School; 1 person who shall be a member of the Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute; and 2 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be selected from at least 3 persons nominated by the National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse and 1 of whom shall be a person under guardianship with a family guardian or conservator, who may be accompanied by his or her guardian or conservator.

The study shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) a review of unmet needs in the commonwealth’s adult guardianship and conservatorship systems; (ii) recommendations on how best to meet the needs of adults with diminished capacity who lack financial resources or family or friends; (iii) an examination of the role that an office of public guardian might have in addressing unmet decisional needs in the commonwealth; (iv) an examination of methods to identify, prevent and remedy guardianship and conservatorship abuses; (v) an examination of the appropriate collection of fees by guardians and conservators; and (vi) a review of alternatives to guardianship, including, but not limited to, supported decision-making and other ways to encourage the use of such alternatives where appropriate.

Not later than July 31, 2019, the commission shall submit a written report of its findings, including legislative recommendations, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities.”.