Sec. 81.114. ATTORNEY INSTRUCTION RELATED TO GUARDIANSHIP ISSUES

(a) The state bar shall provide a course of instruction for attorneys who represent parties in guardianship cases or who serve as court-appointed guardians.

(b) The state bar shall adopt the rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.

(c) The instruction must include information about:

(1) statutory and case law relating to guardianships;

(2) the aging process and the nature of disabilities;

(3) the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.) and related case and statutory law, rules, and compliance methods;

(4) the principles of equal access and accommodation;

(5) the use of community resources for the disabled; and

(6) avoidance of stereotypes through a focus on people's individual abilities, support needs, and inherent individual value.

(d) The instruction may include information about:

(1) substantive areas of law concerning the needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities;

(2) barriers to physical access and methods to overcome those barriers;

(3) communication needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities and the technology available to provide access to communication;

(4) duties and responsibilities of guardians, guardians ad litem, attorneys, and court personnel in guardianship proceedings;

(5) standard definitions and procedures for determining incapacity;

(6) standards for surrogate decision making;

(7) the doctrine of the least-restrictive alternative;

(8) the dispute resolution process, especially its application to elderly persons and persons with disabilities; and

(9) successful programs and funding efforts for addressing the court-related needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 905, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.