2017 -- H 5710

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LC001797

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - LIMITED GUARDIANSHIP

AND GUARDIANSHIP OF ADULTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Johnston, Kazarian, and Messier

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 33-15 of the General Laws entitled "Limited Guardianship and

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Guardianship of Adults" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     33-15-18.1. Rights of persons subject to limited guardianship, guardianship and

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conservatorship.

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     (a) Unless specifically authorized by court order, a limited guardian, guardian or

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conservator shall not restrict a ward's right of communication, visitation, or interaction with other

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persons, including the right to receive visitors, telephone calls, or personal mail. If a ward is

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unable to express consent to communication, visitation, or interaction with a person due to a

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physical or mental condition, then consent of the ward may be presumed based on the ward's

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prior relationship history with the person.

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     (b) A limited guardian, guardian or conservator may, for good cause shown, move the

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court to have restrictions placed on a person's ability to communicate, visit, or interact with a

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ward in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. Good cause means and includes:

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     (1) Whether any protective orders have been issued to protect the ward from the person

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seeking access to the ward;

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     (2) Whether abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of the ward by the person seeking

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access to the ward has occurred or is likely to occur;

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     (3) Documented wishes of the ward to reject communication, visitation, or interaction

 

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with specific persons; or

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     (4) Any other factors deemed relevant by the court.

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     (c)(1) A court may order restrictions placed on the communications, visitations, or

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interactions a person may have with a ward upon a showing of good cause by the limited

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guardian, guardian or conservator.

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     (2) In determining whether to issue an order in accordance with subsection (c)(1) of this

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section, the following factors shall be considered by the court:

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     (i) Whether any protective orders have been issued to protect the ward from the person

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seeking access to the ward;

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     (ii) Whether the person has been charged with abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of

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the ward;

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     (iii) Whether the ward expresses a desire to communicate, visit, or interact with the

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person;

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     (iv) If the ward is unable to communicate, whether a properly executed living will,

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durable power of attorney, or advance directive contains a preference by the ward with regard to

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the person's communication, visitation, or interaction with the ward; and

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     (v) Any other factors deemed relevant by the court.

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     (3) Prior to issuing an order pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the court shall

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consider the following restrictions in the order listed:

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     (i) Placing reasonable time, manner, or place restrictions on communication, visitation, or

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interaction between the ward and another person based on the history between the ward and the

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person or the ward's wishes, or both;

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     (ii) Requiring that communication, visitation, or interaction between the ward and

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another person be supervised; or

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     (iii) Denying communication, visitation, or interaction between the ward and another

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person; provided, that, unless the court finds that the person poses a threat to the ward, supervised

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communication, visitation, or interaction under subsection (c)(3)(ii) of this section shall be

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ordered prior to the denial of any communication, visitation, or interaction.

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     (d)(1) If any interested person, including the ward, reasonably believes that subsection (a)

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of this section or an order issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section has been violated,

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then such person may move the court to:

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     (i) Require the limited guardian, guardian or conservator to grant a person access to the

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ward;

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     (ii) Restrict, or further restrict, a person's access to the ward;

 

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     (iii) Modify the limited guardian, guardian or conservator's duties; or

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     (iv) Discharge and replace the limited guardian, guardian or conservator pursuant to §33-

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15-18.

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     (2) Notwithstanding actions available to the court pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of this

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section, a limited guardian, guardian or conservator who is found to be knowingly isolating a

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ward and who has violated subsection (a) of this section or an order issued pursuant to subsection

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(c) of this section shall be subject to discharge and replacement pursuant to §33-15-18.

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     (e)(1) Except as provided in subsection (e)(2) of this section, the court shall schedule a

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hearing on a motion filed pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) of this section no later than thirty (30)

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days after the date the motion is filed. The court may, in its discretion, order mediation to be

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conducted between the parties and the ward prior to the hearing. If mediation results in agreement

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of the parties and the ward with regard to communication, visitation, or interaction with the ward,

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the agreement shall be approved and memorialized in an order by the court.

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     (2)(i) If the motion states that the ward's health is in significant decline or that the ward's

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death may be imminent, the court shall conduct an emergency hearing as soon as practicable, but

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no later than ten (10) days after the motion is filed.

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     (ii) When a scheduling order is issued for a motion filed pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(i)

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of this section, the court shall also order that supervised communication, visitation, or interaction

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with the ward be granted during the period prior to the hearing.

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     (3) Notice of the hearing, a copy of the motion, and a copy of any order issued pursuant

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to subsection (e)(2)(ii) of this section, if applicable, shall be personally served upon the ward and

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any person against whom the motion is filed, and nothing in this section shall affect the ward's

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right to appear and be heard in the proceedings.

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     (f)(1) The court may award the prevailing party in any action brought under this section

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court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that an award of court costs or

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attorneys' fees shall not be paid out of the ward's estate.

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     (2) The court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, shall impose upon a limited

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guardian, guardian or conservator who is found to be knowingly isolating a ward and who has

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violated subsection (a) of this section or an order issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section

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an appropriate sanction, including an order to pay court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees of the

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other party or parties; provided, however, that no sanction shall be paid out of the ward's estate.

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     (g) A limited guardian, guardian or conservator shall promptly notify a ward's closest

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relatives and any person designated by the ward to be notified, along with the appropriate contact

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information and upon the limited guardian, guardian or conservator's knowledge of such event

 

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and information, in the event:

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     (1) The ward's residence has changed;

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     (2) The ward is staying at a location other than the ward's residence for more than seven

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(7) consecutive days;

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     (3) The ward is admitted to or discharged from a nursing home or assisted-care living

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facility as defined in §§23-17-2 and 23-17.4-2;

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     (4) The ward is admitted to a medical facility for:

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     (i) Emergency care in response to a life-threatening injury or medical condition; or

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     (ii) Acute care; or

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     (iii) The ward dies; provided, that notification of the ward's death shall be made in person

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or by telephone.

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     (h)(1) A limited guardian, guardian or conservator is not required to provide notice in

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accordance with subsection (g) of this section if:

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     (i) A person who is entitled to notice under subsection (g) of this section informs the

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limited guardian, guardian or conservator, in writing, that the person does not wish to receive

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such notice; or

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     (ii) The ward or a court order has expressly prohibited the limited guardian, guardian or

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conservator from providing notice to the person.

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     (2) A limited guardian, guardian or conservator shall not provide contact information in

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accordance with subsection (g) of this section if an order of protection or restraining order has

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been issued against the person on behalf of the ward.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to limited

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guardianships, guardianships or conservatorships created before, on, or after the effective date of

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this act.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - LIMITED GUARDIANSHIP

AND GUARDIANSHIP OF ADULTS

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     This act would provide persons under limited guardianship, guardianship and

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conservatorship with rights designed to protect them from mental, physical and financial abuse by

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their guardians and conservators.

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     This act would take effect upon passage and would apply to limited guardianships,

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guardianships or conservatorships created before, on, or after the effective date of this act.

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LC001797

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