Bill Text: TX HB1325 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to payment of the costs for services of a guardian ad litem, court visitor, and attorney ad litem in a guardianship proceeding.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-04-26 - Referred to Jurisprudence [HB1325 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB1325-Engrossed.html
  82R14746 KLA-D
 
  By: Hartnett H.B. No. 1325
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to payment of the costs for services of a guardian ad
  litem, court visitor, and attorney ad litem in a guardianship
  proceeding.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 665A, Texas Probate Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 665A.  PAYMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. (a) The
  court shall order the payment of a fee set by the court as
  compensation to the attorneys, mental health professionals, and
  interpreters appointed under this chapter, as applicable, to be
  taxed as costs in the case.  If after examining the proposed ward's
  assets the court determines the proposed ward is unable to pay for
  services provided by an attorney, a mental health professional, or
  an interpreter appointed under this chapter, as applicable, the
  county is responsible for the cost of those services, except as
  provided by Subsection (b) of this section.
         (b)  The court may order the applicant in a guardianship
  proceeding to pay the cost of an attorney ad litem appointed under
  this chapter if:
               (1)  the proposed ward's assets are insufficient to pay
  that cost; and
               (2)  the applicant's gross annual family income exceeds
  200 percent of the federal poverty level.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 669, Texas Probate Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 669.  COSTS IN [AGAINST] GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING
  GENERALLY.
         SECTION 3.  Section 669, Texas Probate Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, in
  a guardianship matter, the cost of the proceeding, including the
  cost of the guardian ad litem or court visitor, shall be paid out of
  the guardianship estate, or, if the estate is insufficient to pay
  for the cost of the proceeding, the cost of the proceeding shall be
  paid out of the county treasury, except as provided by Subsection
  (c) of this section, and the judgment of the court shall be issued
  accordingly.
         (c)  The court may order the applicant in a guardianship
  proceeding to pay the cost of the guardian ad litem or court visitor
  appointed in the proceeding if:
               (1)  the guardianship estate is insufficient to pay
  that cost; and
               (2)  the applicant's gross annual family income exceeds
  200 percent of the federal poverty level.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
  guardianship created before, on, or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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