summary
Introduced
02/05/2025
02/05/2025
In Committee
02/05/2025
02/05/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. The bill repeals the "Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act" and enacts the "Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act", drafted by the uniform law commission. The bill provides guidance for guardians and conservators and clarifies how appointees must make decisions on behalf of a person under guardianship or conservatorship. The bill encourages the use of protective arrangements and less restrictive alternatives instead of conservatorship or guardianship if a person's needs can be met with support services and technology. The bill expands the procedural rights for respondents to ensure that guardianships and conservatorships are only imposed when necessary. The bill provides for expanded monitoring of guardians and conservators to ensure compliance with fiduciary duties and prevent exploitation. The bill provides for visitation and communication rights for individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship. This includes a limitation on a guardian's ability to prevent communication, visitation, or interactions between a person subject to guardianship and a third party. The bill provides for protections to prevent exploitation of vulnerable individuals by allowing the court to restrict access to the respondent or the respondent's property by a specified person without imposing a guardianship or conservatorship. The bill prohibits courts from establishing full guardianship or conservatorship if a limited guardianship or conservatorship would meet the respondent's needs, requires a petitioner seeking full guardianship or conservatorship to provide support to justify full guardianship or conservatorship, and requires courts to provide findings to support the imposition of full guardianship or conservatorship. The bill updates provisions concerning minors subject to guardianship and provides for involvement of a minor in decisions that involve the minor. The bill provides guidance for property management for individuals subject to guardianship. The bill contains model forms for petitioners and respondents to use when filing petitions and notice with the court.
AI Summary
This bill introduces the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act, which comprehensively updates Colorado's existing laws regarding guardianship and conservatorship. The bill creates a new Article 14.7 in Title 15 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, replacing the existing guardianship and conservatorship statutes. Key provisions include establishing more detailed definitions, creating clearer standards for appointing guardians and conservators, emphasizing less restrictive alternatives, and providing stronger protections for individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship. The bill introduces several important concepts, such as supported decision-making, which allows individuals to receive assistance in understanding and making decisions without fully removing their decision-making rights. It also establishes more rigorous requirements for guardians and conservators, including detailed reporting, planning, and court oversight. The bill requires courts to prioritize preserving the individual's self-determination, independence, and personal preferences when making guardianship or conservatorship decisions. Additionally, the legislation updates numerous cross-references in other parts of Colorado law to align with the new guardianship and conservatorship framework, ensuring consistency across different legal statutes. The new law will take effect on July 1, 2026, providing time for legal professionals and courts to prepare for the changes.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely (on 04/09/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-134 |
Fiscal Note FN1 | https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025A/bills/fn/2025a_sb134_00.pdf |
BillText | https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025A/bills/2025a_134_01.pdf |
Loading...