Sec. 72.122. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The office shall establish and maintain a guardianship abuse, fraud, and exploitation deterrence program designed to provide additional resources and assistance to courts that have jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings by:

(1) engaging guardianship compliance specialists who shall:

(A) review the guardianships of wards and identify reporting deficiencies by guardians;

(B) audit annual accounts required to be filed by guardians under Chapter 1163, Estates Code, or other law and report their findings to the appropriate courts;

(C) work with courts to develop best practices in managing guardianship cases; and

(D) report to the appropriate courts any concerns of potential abuse, fraud, or exploitation, including financial exploitation, committed against a ward and discovered as a result of the specialists' work under this section; and

(2) maintaining an electronic database to monitor filings of:

(A) inventories, appraisements, and lists of claims required under Chapter 1154, Estates Code, or Section 1203.203, Estates Code;

(B) annual reports required under Section 1163.101, Estates Code; and

(C) any other reports and accounts required of guardians under Chapter 1163, Estates Code, or other law.

(b) A court is required to participate in the program, including allowing guardianship compliance specialists to conduct reviews and audits under the program, if the court is selected by the office to participate in the program.

(c) A court may apply to the office in the manner and form prescribed by the office for participation in the program.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1226 (S.B. 31), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.