45,54
Section
54. 54.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.44 (2) Standard of proof. Any determination by the court as to whether the proposed ward or ward is a minor, is incompetent, or is a spendthrift shall be by clear and convincing evidence.
45,55
Section
55. 54.44 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.44 (4) (title) Presence of proposed ward or ward.
45,56
Section
56. 54.44 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.44 (4) (a) Adult proposed ward or ward. The petitioner shall ensure that the proposed ward or ward attends the hearing unless the attendance is waived by the guardian ad litem. In determining whether to waive attendance by the proposed ward or ward, the guardian ad litem shall consider the ability of the proposed ward or ward to understand and meaningfully participate, the effect of the proposed ward's attendance of the proposed ward or ward on his or her physical or psychological health in relation to the importance of the proceeding, and the proposed ward's expressed desires of the proposed ward or ward. If the proposed ward or ward is unable to attend the hearing because of residency in a nursing home or other facility, physical inaccessibility, or a lack of transportation and if the proposed ward or ward, guardian ad litem, advocate counsel, or other interested person so requests, the court shall hold the hearing in a place where the proposed ward or ward may attend.
45,57
Section
57. 54.44 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.44 (4) (b) Minor proposed ward or ward. A minor proposed ward or ward is not required to attend the hearing.
45,58
Section
58. 54.44 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
54.44 (5) Privacy of hearing. Every hearing under this chapter shall be closed, unless the proposed ward or ward or his or her attorney acting with the proposed ward's or ward's consent or the attorney for a foreign ward moves that it be open. If the hearing is closed, only interested persons, their attorneys, and witnesses may be present.
45,59
Section
59. 54.44 (5m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
54.44 (5m) (title) Participation by interested persons.
54.46 (3) (a) Petitioner's attorney fees and costs. If a guardian is appointed, the court shall award from the ward's income and assets payment of the petitioner's reasonable attorney fees and costs unless the court finds, after considering all of the following, that it would be inequitable to do so:
1. The petitioner's interest in the matter, including any conflict of interest that the petitioner may have had in pursuing the guardianship.
2. The ability of the ward's estate to pay the petitioner's reasonable attorney fees and costs.
3. Whether the guardianship was contested and, if so, the nature of the contest.
4. Whether the ward had executed a durable power of attorney under s. 243.07 or a power of attorney for health care under s. 155.05 or had engaged in other advance planning for financial and health care decision making.
5. Any other factors that the court considers to be relevant.
54.48 Protective placement and protective services. A finding of incompetency and appointment of a guardian under this chapter is not grounds for involuntary protective placement or the provision of protective services. Protective A protective placement and the provision of protective services may be made only in accordance with ch. 55.
45,62
Section
62. 54.52 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.52 (2) At any hearing conducted under this section the court may designate one or more standby guardians of the person or estate whose appointment shall become effective immediately upon the death, unwillingness, or inability to act, or resignation or court's removal of the initially appointed guardian or during a period, as determined by the initially appointed guardian, when the initially appointed guardian or the court is temporarily unable to fulfill his or her duties, including during an extended vacation or illness. The powers and duties of the standby guardian shall be the same as those of the initially appointed guardian. The standby guardian shall receive a copy of the court order establishing or modifying the initial guardianship, and the order designating the standby guardian. Upon assuming office, the standby guardian shall so notify the court. Upon notification, the court shall issue new letters of guardianship that specify that the standby guardianship is permanent or that specify the time period for a limited standby guardianship.
45,63
Section
63. 54.62 (1) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.62 (1) (title) Annual reports accounts.
45,64
Section
64. 54.64 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.64 (3) (a) The court adjudicates a ward who was formerly found to be incompetent to be no longer incompetent or a ward who was formerly found to be a spendthrift to be capable of handling his or her income and assets, or terminates the guardianship under sub. (2) (d).
54.75 Access to court records. All court records pertinent to the finding of incompetency are closed but subject to access as provided in s. 51.30 or 55.22 or under an order of a court under this chapter. The fact that an individual has been found incompetent and the name of and contact information for the guardian is accessible to any person who demonstrates to the custodian of the records a need for that information.
45,66
Section
66. 54.93 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
54.93 (1) (b) In this section, "3rd party" is means a person other than a bank, broker, transfer agent or issuer who with respect to a security held by an incompetent or spendthrift effects a transaction otherwise than directly with the incompetent or spendthrift.
45,67
Section
67. 55.01 (1f) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.01 (1f) "Adult-at-risk agency" means the agency designated by the county board of supervisors under s. 55.043 (1) s. 55.043 (1d) to receive, respond to, and investigate reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation under s. 55.043.
55.01 (1v) "Degenerative brain disorder" means the loss or dysfunction of brain cells to the extent that the individual is substantially impaired in his or her ability to provide adequately for his or her own care or custody or to manage adequately his or her property or financial affairs.
55.01 (2) "Developmental disability" means a disability attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or another neurological condition closely related to mental retardation or requiring treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, substantially impairs an individual from adequately providing for his or her own care or custody, and constitutes a substantial handicap to the afflicted individual. The term does not include dementia that is primarily caused by degenerative brain disorder.
45,70
Section
70. 55.01 (6p) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.01 (6p) "Protective placement unit" means a ward, wing, or other designated part of a protective placement facility.
45,71
Section
71. 55.01 (6r) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.01 (6r) (k) Any services that, when provided to an individual with developmental disabilities, degenerative brain disorder, serious and persistent mental illness, or other like incapacity, keep the individual safe from abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or misappropriation of property self-neglect or prevent the individual from experiencing deterioration or from inflicting harm on himself or herself or another person.
55.01 (6v) "Serious and persistent mental illness" means a mental illness that is severe in degree and persistent in duration, that causes a substantially diminished level of functioning in the primary aspects of daily living and an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, that may lead to an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without long-term treatment and support, and that may be of lifelong duration. "Serious and persistent mental illness" includes schizophrenia as well as a wide spectrum of psychotic and other severely disabling psychiatric diagnostic categories, but does not include degenerative brain disorder or a primary diagnosis of a developmental disability or of alcohol or drug dependence.
55.02 Protective services and protective placement: duties. (1) Department duties. (a) The department shall do all of the following:
1. Cooperate with county departments to develop and operate a coordinated, statewide system for protective services and protective placement. The protective services and protective placement system shall be designed to encourage independent living and to avoid protective placement whenever possible.
2. Monitor and supervise the implementation and operation of the protective services and protective placement system.
3. Provide technical assistance to county departments providing protective services and protective placement.
4. Evaluate the protective services and protective placement system.
(b) The department may provide protective services and protective placement directly or contract for the provision of protective services or protective placement.
(2) County department duties. (a) The chairperson of each county board of supervisors shall designate a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437 that is providing services in the county on its own or through a joint mechanism with another county department or county to have the responsibility for planning for the provision of protective services and protective placement and for directly providing protective services, protective placement, or both, or entering into a contract under s. 46.036 with a responsible agency for the provision of protective services, protective placement, or both.
(b) In addition to the responsibilities specified in par. (a), the county department shall:
1. Monitor and evaluate protective services and protective placements.
2. Prepare and submit reports required by the department, or by a court if protective services or protective placement are ordered by a court.
3. Develop requirements for submittal by guardians of the person of reports to the county department under s. 54.25 (1) (a).
4. Designate at least one appropriate medical facility or protective placement facility as an intake facility for the purpose of emergency protective placements under s. 55.135.
(3) Corporation counsel. The corporation counsel of the county in which the petition is brought may or, if requested by the court, shall assist in conducting proceedings under this chapter.
55.03 (1) Agency as both guardian and provider prohibited. No agency acting as a guardian appointed under ch. 880, 2003 stats., or ch. 54 may be a provider of protective services or protective placement for its ward under this chapter.
45,75
Section
75. 55.03 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.03 (3) Guardian authority and responsibility applicable to parent of minor. Where any responsibility or authority is created under this chapter upon or in relation to a guardian, the responsibility or authority is deemed to apply to a parent or person in the place of a parent in the case of a minor who is or who is alleged to be developmentally disabled have a developmental disability.
45,76
Section
76. 55.043 (1r) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (a) 2. If an agent or employee of an adult-at-risk agency required to refer under this subsection is the subject of a report, or if the adult-at-risk agency or an agency under contract with the county department determines that the relationship between the adult-at-risk agency and the agency under contract with the county department would not allow for an unbiased response, the adult-at-risk agency shall, after taking any action necessary to protect the adult at risk, notify the department. Upon receipt of the notice, the department or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 designated by the department shall conduct an independent investigation. The powers and duties of a county department making the independent investigation are those given to an adult-at-risk agency under pars. (b) to (g) pars. (b) to (d) and sub. (6).
55.043 (1r) (b) 2. Observation of or an interview with the adult at risk, in private to the extent practicable, and with or without consent of his or her guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, if any.
55.043 (1r) (c) 2. c. The examination is authorized by order of a court.
45,79
Section
79. 55.043 (4) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.043 (4) (am) Upon responding to a report, the adult-at-risk agency or the investigative agency shall determine whether the adult at risk or any other individual involved in the alleged abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect is in need of services under this chapter or ch. 46, 47, 59, 51, or 880 ch. 46, 47, 49, 51, and or 54. If provided, direct services shall be rendered under the least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve their objective.
55.043 (4) (b) 1. Initiate a protective services,, action or contact an investigative agency, as appropriate.
55.043 (4) (b) 2. Take appropriate emergency action, including provision of emergency protective services under s. 55.13 or emergency protective placement under s. 55.135, if the adult-at-risk agency considers that the emergency action is in the best interests of the adult at risk and the emergency action is the least restrictive appropriate intervention.
45,82
Section
82. 55.043 (6) (bt) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
55.043 (6) (bt) 8. To the attorney or guardian ad litem for the adult at risk who is the alleged victim named in the record, to assist in preparing for any proceeding under ch. 48, 51, 55, 813, 880, 971, or 975 this chapter or ch. 48, 51, 54, 813, 971, or 975 pertaining to the alleged victim.
55.055 (1) (a) The guardian of an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent may consent to the individual's admission to a foster home, group home, or community-based residential facility, as defined under s. 50.01 (1g), without a protective placement order under s. 55.12 if the home or facility is licensed for fewer than 16 beds. Prior to providing that consent, and annually thereafter, the guardian shall review the ward's right to the least restrictive residential environment and may consent only to admission to a home or facility that implements that right.
55.055 (1) (b) The guardian of an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent may consent to the individual's admission to a nursing home or other facility not specified in par. (a) for which protective placement is otherwise required for a period not to exceed 60 days. In order to be admitted under this paragraph, the individual must be in need of recuperative care or be unable to provide for his or her own care or safety so as to create a serious risk of substantial harm to himself or herself or others. Prior to providing that consent, the guardian shall review the ward's right to the least restrictive residential environment and consent only to admission to a nursing home or other facility that implements that right. Following the 60-day period, the admission may be extended for an additional 60 days if a petition for protective placement under s. 55.075 has been brought, or, if no petition for protective placement under s. 55.075 has been brought, for an additional 30 days for the purpose of allowing the initiation of discharge planning for the individual. Admission under this paragraph is not permitted for an individual for whom the primary purpose of admission is for treatment or services related to the individual's mental illness or developmental disability.
45,85
Section
85. 55.055 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
55.055 (3) (c) Comply with s. 55.135, if the individual satisfies all criteria under s. 55.135 (1) and emergency placement in that home, nursing home, or other facility or another home, nursing home, or other facility is necessary, or file a petition for protective placement under s. 55.075. The court, with the permission of the home, nursing home, or other facility, may order the individual to remain in the home, nursing home, or other facility pending the outcome of the protective placement proceedings.
55.06 Protective services and protective placement; eligibility. To be eligible for court-ordered protective placement or protective services, an individual shall have filed a petition to transfer a foreign guardianship, whether present in the state or not, or shall be a resident of the state; and shall have a need for protective placement or protective services. The individual shall have attained the age of 18, but an individual who is alleged to have a developmental disability may receive protective placement or protective services upon attaining the age of 14. Protective placement or protective services may be ordered under this chapter only for an individual who is adjudicated incompetent in this state or for a minor who is alleged to have a developmental disability, and only if there is a finding of a need for protective placement under s. 55.08 (1), and ss. 55.055 (5), 55.13, and 55.135 are inappropriate or do not apply. A procedure for court-ordered protective placement or protective services may be initiated 6 months before a minor attains age 18.
55.075 (1) Who may petition. The department, the county department or an agency with which the county department contracts under s. 55.02 (2), a guardian, or an interested person may file a petition for appointment of a guardian and for protective services or protective placement for an the individual. The department shall provide for a schedule of reimbursement for the cost of the proceedings based upon the ability to pay of the proposed ward or individual to be protected.
55.075 (3) Petition for guardianship; review of incompetency. A petition for guardianship described in s. 55.08 (1) (b) or (2) (a) shall be heard prior to ordering protective placement or protective services. If the individual is incompetent adjudicated incompetent in this state more than 12 months before the filing of an application for protective placement or protective services on his or her behalf, the court shall review the finding of incompetency.
55.075 (5) (a) A petition under sub. (1) shall be filed in the county of residence of the individual to be protected, as determined under s. 51.40 or by the individual's guardian or where the individual is physically present due to extraordinary circumstances including those specified under s. 51.22 (4). If an individual has not received services under this chapter or ch. 46 or 51 or if an individual has received services under this chapter or ch. 46 or 51 that have been terminated and has established residence in a county other than that in which the individual resided when the services were received, the court may determine the individual's county of residence. The county of residence under this paragraph is the county of responsibility.
