103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0216

 

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 3955/33.5
755 ILCS 5/13-1.2

    Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the guardianship training program shall include content regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires a public guardian to complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia within 6 months of appointment and annually thereafter.


LRB103 25397 LNS 51744 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0216LRB103 25397 LNS 51744 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Guardianship and Advocacy Act is amended by
5changing Section 33.5 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 3955/33.5)
7    Sec. 33.5. Guardianship training program. The State
8Guardian shall provide a training program that outlines the
9duties and responsibilities of guardians appointed under
10Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975. The training program
11shall be offered to courts at no cost, and shall outline the
12responsibilities of a guardian and the rights of a person with
13a disability in a guardianship proceeding under Article XIa of
14the Probate Act of 1975. The training program shall also
15include content regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia,
16including, but not limited to, the following topics: effective
17communication strategies; best practices for interacting with
18people living with Alzheimer's disease or related forms of
19dementia; and strategies for supporting people living with
20Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia in exercising
21their rights. In developing the training program content, the
22State Guardian shall consult with the courts, State and
23national guardianship organizations, public guardians,

 

 

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1advocacy organizations, and persons and family members with
2direct experience with adult guardianship. In the preparation
3and dissemination of training materials, the State Guardian
4shall give due consideration to making the training materials
5accessible to persons with disabilities.
6(Source: P.A. 100-483, eff. 9-8-18.)
 
7    Section 10. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing
8Section 13-1.2 as follows:
 
9    (755 ILCS 5/13-1.2)
10    Sec. 13-1.2. Certification requirement.
11    Each person appointed as a public guardian by the Governor
12shall be certified as a National Certified Guardian by the
13Center for Guardianship Certification within 6 months after
14his or her appointment. The Guardianship and Advocacy
15Commission shall provide public guardians with information
16about certification requirements and procedures for testing
17and certification offered by the Center for Guardianship
18Certification. The cost of certification shall be considered
19an expense connected with the operation of the public
20guardian's office within the meaning of subsection (b) of
21Section 13-3.1 of this Article.
22    A public guardian shall additionally complete a one-hour
23course regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia within 6
24months of appointment and annually thereafter. The training

 

 

SB0216- 3 -LRB103 25397 LNS 51744 b

1program shall include, but not be limited to, the following
2topics: effective communication strategies; best practices for
3interacting with people with Alzheimer's disease and related
4forms of dementia; and strategies for supporting people living
5with Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia in
6exercising their rights.
7(Source: P.A. 100-483, eff. 9-8-18.)