Revises provisions relating to guardianship. (BDR 13-470)

Existing law creates the State Guardianship Compliance Office to provide certain services relating to guardianship proceedings. Existing law also: (1) creates the position of State Guardianship Compliance Officer within the Office; and (2) authorizes the Officer to hire two accountants and two investigators to provide certain services to district courts. (NRS 159.341) Section 3 of this bill changes the: (1) name of the State Guardianship Compliance Office to the State Guardianship Office; and (2) title of the State Guardianship Compliance Officer to the State Guardianship Officer. Section 3 also expands the authority of the Officer to hire accountants and investigators by authorizing the Officer, within the limits of legislative appropriation, to hire such accountants and investigators as the Officer deems necessary. Existing law authorizes the court, after the filing of a petition in a guardianship proceeding, to appoint one or more investigators to perform certain duties related to the proceeding. (NRS 159.046, 159A.046) Existing law likewise authorizes an investigator employed by the Office to provide investigative services to the district courts during the administration of guardianship proceedings. (NRS 159.341) Sections 1, 3 and 6 of this bill: (1) prohibit a governmental entity, including a court, from charging a fee for providing a copy of any document requested by an investigator in connection with an investigation; and (2) make various other changes relating to an investigation. Existing law: (1) authorizes the court in an adult guardianship proceeding to appoint or extend the appointment of a guardian for a protected person or proposed protected person seeking status as a special immigrant juvenile with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security under certain circumstances; and (2) provides for the termination of any such guardianship on or before the date on which the protected person reaches 21 years of age. (NRS 159.191, 159.343) Sections 4 and 8 of this bill likewise: (1) authorize the court in a minor guardianship proceeding to appoint or extend the appointment of a guardian for a protected minor or proposed protected minor seeking status as a special immigrant juvenile; and (2) provide for the termination of any such guardianship on or before the date on which the protected minor reaches 21 years of age. Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change to the relevant definition of “minor.” Existing law requires a person who files a petition in a minor guardianship proceeding to notify the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services of the time and place of the hearing on the petition if the protected minor has received or is receiving benefits from Medicaid. (NRS 159A.034) Section 5.5 of this bill eliminates this requirement. Existing law: (1) requires service of a copy of a petition for the appointment of a guardian and the citation issued pursuant to any such petition on certain persons; and (2) prescribes the procedure for the service of process on such persons. (NRS 159.0475, 159A.0475) Sections 2 and 7 of this bill revise the procedure for such service of process by authorizing: (1) service by certain methods set forth in the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure under certain circumstances; and (2) the court to waive a requirement that service of the citation be made by publication under certain circumstances.