RULES OF COURT
| IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO GR 23 (c)(2)(xiv) | ) ) ) |
ORDER NO. 25700-A-763 |
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ORDERED:
(a) That the amendment as attached hereto is adopted.
(b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9(i), the amendment will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 12th day of March 2003.
| Alexander, C.J. |
|
| Johnson, J. |
Ireland, J. |
| Madsen, J. |
Chambers, J. |
| Bridge, J. |
Owens, J. |
| Sanders, J. |
Mary E. Fairhurst |
(c) Certified Professional Guardian Board.
(1) [Unchanged.]
(2) Duties and Powers.
(i) Applications. The Board shall process applications for professional guardian certification under this rule. The Board may delay or deny certification if an applicant fails to provide required basic or supplemental information.
(ii) Standards of Practice. The Board shall adopt and implement policies or regulations setting forth minimum standards of practice which professional guardians shall meet.
(iii) Training Program. The Board shall adopt and implement regulations establishing a professional guardian-training program.
(iv) Examination. The Board may adopt and implement regulations governing the preparation and administration of certification examinations.
(v) Recommendation of Certification. The Board may recommend certification to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall review the Board's recommendation and enter an appropriate order.
(vi) Denial of Certification. The Board may deny certification. If the Board denies certification, it shall notify an applicant in writing of the basis for denial of certification and inform the applicant of the appeal process.
(vii) Continuing Education. The Board may adopt and implement regulations for continuing education.
(viii) Grievances and Discipline. The Board shall adopt and implement procedures to review any allegation that a professional guardian has violated an applicable statute, fiduciary duty, standard of practice, rule, or regulation. The Board may impose sanctions upon a finding of violation. Sanctions may include decertification or lesser remedies or actions designed to ensure compliance with duties, standards, and requirements for professional guardians.
(ix) Investigation. The Board may investigate to determine whether an applicant for certification meets the certification requirements established in this rule. The Board may also investigate to determine whether a professional guardian has violated the duty, standard of practice, rule, regulation, or statute governing the conduct of professional guardians.
(x) Authority to Conduct Hearings. The Board may adopt regulations pertaining to the orderly conduct of hearings.
a) Subpoenas. The Chair of the Board, Hearing Officer, or designated attorney shall have the power to issue subpoenas.
b) Orders. The Chair or Hearing Officer may make such pre-hearing or other orders as are necessary for the orderly conduct of any hearing.
c) Enforcement. The Board may refer a Subpoena or order to the Supreme Court for enforcement.
(xi) Confidentiality. Information in the Board's possession shall be disclosed upon request, except that the following information shall not be disclosed without a court order:
a) Personal information, including, but not limited to, home address, financial information, medical information, or Social Security number;
b) Records required by law, regulation, or court order to be confidential;
c) Records of reviews or investigations by the Board which did not result in sanctions;
d) Professional guardian examination questions, answers, or scores;
e) Records of investigations shall remain confidential except for documents showing the results of the investigation where there has been an appeal; and
f) Records of disciplinary actions shall remain confidential except all formal complaints and the process after filing the formal complaint shall be public.
(xii) Meetings. The Board shall hold meetings as determined necessary by the chair. Meetings of the Board will be open to the public except for executive sessions of the Board and review panel and disciplinary meetings prior to filing of a formal complaint.
(xiii) Fees. The Board shall establish and collect fees in such amounts as are necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Board.
(xiv)Immunity from Liability. No cause of action against the Board, its members, or agents, including hearing officers appointed by the Board or its Chair, shall accrue in favor of a professional guardian or any other person arising from any act taken pursuant to this rule, provided that the Board or individual acted in good faith. The burden of proving that the acts were not taken in good faith shall be on the party asserting it.
(d) - (m) [Unchanged.]
Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.