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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
probate advisory panel; establishment
Purpose
Establishes the Probate Advisory Panel (Panel) and outlines membership and duties of the Panel. Requires the Panel to hold quarterly public hearings on how to improve adult guardianship and conservatorship laws through statutory changes and requires the Panel to submit a report of its findings by November 15 of each year. Repeals the Panel on January 1, 2028.
Background
The purpose of the probate jurisdiction of the courts is: 1) to simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons, protected persons, minors and incapacitated persons; 2) to discover and make effective the intent of a decedent in distribution of the decedent's property; 3) to promote a speedy and efficient system for liquidating the estate of the decedent and making distribution to the decedent's successors; 4) to facilitate use and enforcement of certain trusts; and 5) to make uniform the law among the various jurisdictions (A.R.S. § 14-1102).
A person becomes a guardian of a minor by acceptance of a testamentary appointment or upon appointment by the court. The guardianship status continues until terminated, without regard to the location from time to time of the guardian and minor ward. A person becomes a guardian of an incapacitated person by a parental or spousal appointment or on appointment by the court. The guardianship continues until it is terminated, without regard to the location of the guardian or the ward (A.R.S. §§ 14-5201 and 14-5301.02).
The court may appoint a conservator on petition and after notice and a hearing in relation to the estate and affairs of a minor if the court determines that a minor owns money or property that requires management or protection that cannot otherwise be provided, or the minor has or may have affairs that may be jeopardized or prevented by minority or that funds are needed for the minor's support and education and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide funds. The court may also appoint a conservator in relation to the estate and affairs of a person if the court finds that; 1) the person is unable to manage the person's estates and affairs due to mental illness, mental deficiency, mental disorder, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, confinement, detention by a foreign power or disappearance; and 2) that the person has property that will be wasted or dissipated unless proper management is provided, or that funds are needed for the support, care and welfare of the person or those entitled to be supported by the person and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide funds. (A.R.S. § 14-5401)
The court must appoint a public fiduciary for those persons or decedents' estates in need of guardianship, conservatorship or administration and for whom there is no person or corporation qualified and willing to act in that capacity (A.R.S. § 14-5602).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Panel in the Office of the Governor.
2. Outlines that the Panel is comprised of the following members:
a) two public members who are guardians or conservators of an adult child or a sibling who is a ward and who are not court appointed, one of which is to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the other to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after first consulting with the Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
b) two public members who are guardians or conservators of a family member other than an adult child or sibling of the guardian or conservator and who are not court appointed, one of which is to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the other to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after first consulting with the Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
c) two members who are advocates for family members who have been parties to an adult guardianship or conservatorship matter in Arizona, one of which is to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the other to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after first consulting with the Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
d) one public fiduciary who is licensed by the Arizona Supreme Court and who is from a county with a population of fewer than 500,000 persons to be appointed by the Governor;
e) one fiduciary, who is not a public fiduciary, licensed by the Arizona Supreme Court and who is from a county with a population of more than 500,000 persons, to be appointed by the Governor;
f) one attorney who has a minimum of four years experience in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings appointed by the Governor;
g) one judicial officer who has a minimum of two years experience presiding over guardianship and conservatorship proceedings and who is from a county with a population of more than 500,000 persons appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and
h) one clerk of the superior court appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
3. Requires the Panel to:
a) select a chairperson at its first quarterly meeting;
b) hold public hearings at least quarterly, or at the request of the chairperson, on how to improve the adult guardianship and conservatorship laws through statutory changes;
c) submit a report of its findings and recommendations by November 15 of each year to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and
d) provide a copy of each report to the Secretary of State.
4. Allows the Panel, when the Panel finds it appropriate, to consult with medical professionals including neuropsychologists, psychologists, or psychiatrists.
5. Prohibits Panel members from receiving compensation or reimbursement of expenses.
6. Limits the initial terms of the members of the Panel to:
a) four terms ending January 1, 2025;
b) four terms ending January 1, 2026; and
c) three terms ending January 1, 2027.
7. Requires the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to make all subsequent appointments as prescribed.
8. Repeals the Panel on January 1, 2028.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Specifies that the two public members of the Panel who are guardians of an adult child or a sibling who is a ward are not court appointed.
2. Specifies that the two public members of the Panel who are conservators of a parent who is a protected person are not court appointed.
3. Adds two additional members to the Panel who are advocates for victims of probate abuse with one of each to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
4. Modifies the staggered Panel terms to account for the additional two members.
5. Adds that, when selecting the two public members who are guardians of an adult child or a sibling who is a ward, that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must consult with the Minority Leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.
6. Adds that, when selecting the two public members who are conservators of a parent who is a protected person, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must consult with the Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Replaces the two additional members to the Panel who are advocates for victims of probate abuse with two members who are advocates for family members who have been parties to an adult guardianship or conservatorship in Arizona.
2. Requires the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to consult with the Minority Leader in the Senate and the House when selecting the two members who are advocates for family members who have been parties to an adult guardianship or conservatorship.
3. Modifies requirements for Panel membership by:
a) removing the prohibition against public members of the Panel being court appointed;
b) allowing conservators of an adult child or a sibling who is a ward to serve on the Panel;
c) allowing a conservator of a family member other than an adult child or sibling of the guardian or conservator, rather than of a parent who is a protected person, to serve on the Panel; and
d) allowing a guardian of a family member other than an adult child or sibling of the guardian or conservator to serve on the Panel.
4. Modifies the end date of each staggered term by one year.
5. Allows the Panel, when the Panel finds it appropriate, to consult with medical professionals including neuropsychologists, psychologists or psychiatrists.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Requires the Panel to hold public hearings at least quarterly, rather than at least once per year.
2. Repeals the Panel on January 1, 2028.
Senate Action House Action
JUD 1/26/23 DPA 7-0-0 JUD 3/15/23 DPA 8-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/28/23 27-2-1 3rd Read 4/25/23 50-8-1-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
April 25, 2023
ZD/KS/sr