RULES OF COURT
| IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO GR 23 - RULE FOR CERTIFYING PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANS | ) ) ) ) |
ORDER NO. 25700-A-906 |
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 (j)(l), the amendment will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 4th day of December, 2008.
| Alexander, C.J. |
|
| C. Johnson, J. |
|
| Madsen, J. |
Fairhurst, J. |
| Sanders, J. |
J. M. Johnson, J. |
| |
Stephens, J. |
Rule for Certifying Professional Guardians
(b) Jurisdiction. All professional guardians who practice in the state of Washington are subject to these rules and regulations. Jurisdiction shall continue whether or not the professional guardian retains certification under this rule, and regardless of the professional guardian's residence.
(c) Certified Professional Guardian Board.
(1) Establishment.
(i) Membership. The Supreme Court shall appoint a
Certified Professional Guardian Board ("Board") of 12 or more
members. The Board shall include representatives from the
following areas of expertise: professional guardians;
attorneys; guardianship advocates for incapacitated persons;
courts; state agencies; and those employed in medical, social,
health, financial, or other fields pertinent to guardianships.
No more than one-third of the Board membership shall be
practicing professional guardians.
(ii) Terms. The term for a member of the Board shall be three years. No member may serve more than three consecutive full three-year terms, not to exceed nine consecutive years, including any unfilled term. Terms shall be established such that one-third shall end each year. All terms of office begin October 1 and end September 30 or when a successor has been appointed, whichever occurs later.
(iii) Leadership. The Supreme Court shall designate the Chair of the Board. The Board shall designate the Vice-Chair, who shall serve in the absence of or at the request of the Chair.
(iv) Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the terms of office of Board members shall be filled for the unexpired term.
(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 Disciplineary Sanctions. 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, or other requirement governing the conduct of
professional guardians authority. The Board may take
disciplinary action and impose disciplinary sanctions based on
upon a findings that establish a of violation of an applicable
statute, duty, standard of practice, rule, regulation or other
requirement governing the conduct of professional guardians.
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 any the statute, duty, standard of
practice, rule, regulation, or other requirement 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 a party's 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.
(xi) Disclosure of Records. The Board may adopt regulations pertaining to the disclosure of records in the Board's possession.
(xii) Meetings. The Board shall hold meetings as
determined to be necessary by the chair. Meetings of the
Board will be open to the public except for executive
session,s of the Board, and review panel, or and disciplinary
meetings prior to filing of a formal disciplinary complaint.
(xiii) Fees. The Board shall establish and collect fees
in such amounts as are necessary to carry out support the
duties and responsibilities of the Board.
(3) Board Expenses. Board members shall not be compensated for their services. Consistent with the Office of Financial Management rules, Board members shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. All expenses shall be paid pursuant to a budget submitted to and approved by the Supreme Court. Funds accumulated from examination fees, annual fees, and other revenues shall be used to defray Board expenses.
(4) Agency. Hearing officers are agents of the Board and are accorded rights of such agency.
(5) (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 were not in good faith
shall be on the party so asserting it. The Board, its
members, or agents, including duly appointed hearing officers,
shall enjoy quasi-judicial immunity if the Supreme Court would
have immunity in performing the same functions.
(6) Conflict of Interest. A Board member should disqualify himself or herself from making any decisions in a proceeding in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to, when the Board member has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding.
(7) Leave of Absence. The Board may adopt regulations specifying that a Board member who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation by the Board must take a leave of absence from the Board. A Board member may not continue to serve as a member of the Board if the Board or Supreme Court has imposed a final disciplinary sanction on the Board member.
(8) Administration. The Administrative Office of the
Courts (AOC) Office of the Administrator for the Courts (OAC)
shall provide administrative support to the Board and may
contract with agencies or organizations to carry out the
Board's administrative functions.
(d) Certification Requirements. Applicants, Certified Professional Guardians, and Certified Agencies shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 11.88 and 11.92 RCW. In addition, individuals and agencies must meet the following requirements.
(1) Individual Certification. The following requirements apply to applicants and do not apply to currently certified professional guardians, except as stated in subsection (d)(1)(vii). An individual applicant shall:
(i) Be at least 18 years of age;
(ii) Be of sound mind;
(iii) Have no felony or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude;
(iv) Possess an high school diploma or equivalency (GED)
associate's degree from an accredited institution and at least
four five full years' experience working in a discipline
pertinent to the provision of guardianship services, such as
legal, financial, social service, or health care; or an
associate of Arts degree and three years experience working in
a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship
services, such as legal, financial, social service, or health
care; or a Bachelor of Arts baccalaureate degree from an
accredited institution and at least two one full years' of
experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision
of guardianship services, such as legal, financial, social
service, or health care; and;
(v) The experience required by this rule must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment on behalf of others in the area of legal, financial, social services or healthcare or other disciplines pertinent to the provision of guardianship services;
(vi) Have completed the mandatory certification training.
(vii) Applicants enrolled in the mandatory certification training on September 12, 2008, and who satisfactorily complete that training, shall meet the certification requirements existing on that date, or the date the applicant submitted a complete application for certification, whichever date is earlier, and not the requirements set forth in this rule.
(2) Agency Certification. Agencies must meet the following additional requirements:
(i) All officers and directors of the corporation must meet the qualifications of Chapter 11.88.020 RCW for guardians;
(ii) Each agency shall have at least two (2) individuals in the agency certified as professional guardians, whose residence or principal place of business is in Washington State and who are so designated in minutes or a resolution from the Board of Directors; and
(iii) Each agency shall file and maintain in every guardianship court file a current designation of each certified professional guardian with final decision-making authority for the incapacitated person or their estate.
(3) Training Program and Examination. Applicants must satisfy the Board's training program and examination requirements.
(4) Insurance Coverage. In addition to the bonding requirements of Chapter 11.88 RCW, applicants must be insured or bonded at all times in such amount as may be determined by the Board and shall notify the Board immediately of cancellation of required coverage.
(5) Financial Responsibility. Applicants must provide proof of ability to respond to damages resulting from acts or omissions in the performance of services as a guardian. Proof of financial responsibility shall be in such form and in such amount as the Board may prescribe by regulation.
(6) Application and Under Oath. Applicants must execute
and file with the Board an approved application under oath.
(7) Application Fees. Applicants must pay fees as the Board may require by regulation.
(8) Disclosure. An applicant for certified professional guardian or certified agency shall disclose upon application:
(i) The existence of a judgment against the applicant arising from the applicant's performance of services as a fiduciary;
(ii) A court finding that the applicant has violated its duties as a fiduciary, or committed a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude;
(iii) Any adjudication of the types specified in RCW 43.43.830, and RCW 43.43.842;
(iv) Pending or final licensing or disciplinary board actions or findings of violations;
(v) The existence of a judgment against the applicant within the preceding eight years in any civil action;
(vi) Whether the applicant has filed for bankruptcy within the last seven years. Disclosure of a bankruptcy filing within the past seven years may require the applicant or guardian to provide a personal credit report from a recognized credit reporting bureau satisfactory to the Board;
(vii) The existence of a judgment against the applicant or any corporation, partnership or limited liability corporation for which the applicant was a managing partner, controlling member or majority shareholder within the preceding eight years in any civil action.
(89) Denial of Certification. The Board may deny
certification of an individual or agency based on any of the
following criteria:
(i) Removal as guardian by a court order where Failure to
satisfy certification requirements provided in section (d) of
this rule;
(aii) The existence of a jJudgment has been entered
against the guardian applicant arising froms a result of the
applicant's performance of services as a guardian fiduciary;
(biii) There is a A court finding by the court that the
guardian applicant has violated its fiduciary duties or
committed malfeasance, nonfeasance, misfeasance, a felony or
any crime involving of moral turpitude;
(iiiv) Any adjudication of the types specified in RCW 43.43.830, and RCW 43.43.842;
(iii) Finding by the court that the professional guardian
has violated the guardian's duties to the incapacitated person
or their estate; and
(iv) Pending or final professional licensing or
disciplinary board actions or findings of violations;
(vi) A Board determination based on specific findings that the applicant lacks the requisite moral character or is otherwise unqualified to practice as a professional guardian;
(vii) A Board determination based on specific findings that the applicant's financial responsibility background is unsatisfactory.
(10) Designation/Title. An individual certified under this rule may use the initials "CPG" following the individual's name to indicate status as "Certified Professional Guardian." An agency certified under this rule may indicate that it is a "Certified Professional Guardian Agency" by using the initials "CPGA" after its name. An individual or agency may not use the term "certified professional guardian" or "certified professional guardian agency" as part of a business name.
(e) Guardian Disclosure Requirements.
(1) A Certified Professional Guardian or Certified Agency
shall disclose to the Board in writing upon application within
30 days of occurrence and on a continuing basis:
(1) Removal as guardian by a court order where;
(ai) The existence of a Jjudgment has been entered
against the professional guardian arisings a result of from
the professional guardian's performance of services as a
guardian fiduciary;
(bii) There is a A court finding by a court that the
professional guardian violated its fiduciary duties, or has
committed malfeasance, nonfeasance, misfeasance, a felony, or
any crime of involving moral turpitude;
(2iii) Any adjudication of the types specified in RCW 43.43.830, and RCW 43.43.842;
(3) Finding by a court that the professional guardian has
violated the guardian's duties to the incapacitated person or
their estate;
(4iv) Pending or final professional licensing or
disciplinary board actions related to fiduciary
responsibilities or final licensing or disciplinary actions
resulting in findings of violations;
(5v) Residential or business moves or changes in
employment; and
(6vi) Names of Certified Professional Guardians they
employ or who leave their employ.
(2) Not later than June 30 of each year, each professional guardian and guardian agency shall complete and submit an annual disclosure statement providing information required by the Board.
(f) Regulations. The Board shall adopt regulations to implement this rule.
(g) Provisional Certification. The Board may adopt and
implement regulations permitting provisional certification of
professional guardians and the initial certification of
successful applicants.
(hg) Personal Identification Number. The Board shall
establish an identification numbering system for professional
guardians. The Personal Identification Number shall be
included with the professional guardian's signature on
documents filed with the court.
(i) Expenses of the Board. Members of the Board shall
not be compensated for their services. Consistent with the
Office of Financial Management rules, Board members shall be
reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in
the performance of their duties. All expenses shall be paid
pursuant to a budget submitted to and approved by the Supreme
Court. Funds accumulated from examination fees, annual fees,
and other revenues shall be used to defray expenses of the
Board.
(j) Administration. The Office of the Administrator for
the Courts (OAC) shall provide administrative support to the
Board, and may contract with agencies or organizations to
carry out the Board's administrative functions.
(k) Title. An individual certified under this rule may
use the initials "CPG" following the individual's name to
indicate status as "Certified Professional Guardian." An
agency certified under this rule may indicate that it is a
"Certified Professional Guardian Agency" by using the initials
"CPGA" after its name.
(l) Existing Law Unchanged. This rule shall not expand,
narrow, or otherwise affect existing law, including but not
limited to, Title 11 RCW.
(mh) Ethics Advisory Opinions.
(1) The Board may issue written ethics advisory opinions to inform and advise Certified Professional Guardians and Certified Agencies of their ethical obligations.
(2) Any Certified Professional Guardian or Certified Agency may request in writing an ethical advisory opinion from the Board. Compliance with an opinion issued by the Board shall be considered as evidence of good faith in any subsequent disciplinary proceeding involving a Certified Professional Guardian or Certified Agency.
(3) The Board shall publish opinions issued pursuant to this rule in electronic or paper format. The identity of the person requesting an opinion is confidential and not public information.
(i) Existing Law Unchanged. This rule shall not expand, narrow, or otherwise affect existing law, including but not limited to, Title 11 RCW.
[Adopted effective January 25, 2000; amended effective April
30, 2002; amended effective April 1, 2003; September 1, 2004.]
[Proposed amendments October , 2008.]
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.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the State Supreme Court and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.