Bill > HB765

This bill reestablishes the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS), a nine-member group appointed by the Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice to evaluate and improve the state's adult guardianship and conservatorship system. The network will include representatives from various professional backgrounds such as district courts, public health services, disability and senior advocacy groups, guardians, healthcare providers, and legal professionals. Members will serve staggered four-year terms and meet at least four times annually. The network's key responsibilities include identifying strengths and weaknesses in the current guardianship system, exploring less restrictive decision-making options for incapacitated individuals, reviewing and recommending national guardianship standards, proposing training methods for guardians, and serving as an ongoing problem-solving mechanism to enhance care quality for adults in or potentially entering the guardianship system. The bill also provides for grant funding through the judicial branch to support guardianship services, with the network providing recommendations on grant allocations. The entire initiative is set to terminate on September 30, 2032, allowing for periodic review and potential renewal of the program.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3182