SB 475

Amends GS 35A-1217, concerning the appointment of a guardian ad litem for an incompetent ward, as follows. Requires the guardian ad litem to have completed a training program, including at minimum of each of six listed subjects, including the rights of the incompetent person with emphasis on the due process rights of the incompetent persons, available resources to assist incompetent persons, and the legal duties and responsibilities of the guardian ad litem. Grants the clerk discretion to partially or completely waive the training requirements or expand those training requirements, based upon the clerk's consideration of at least each of the following: (1) the experience and education of the guardian with respect to those training requirements; (2) the duties and responsibilities of the guardian ad litem; and (3) the needs of the incompetent person.