30-4102. Legislative findings.
(1) The Legislature finds that the present system of obtaining a guardian or conservator for an individual, which often depends on volunteers, is inadequate when there is no willing and qualified family member or other person available or willing to serve as guardian or conservator for such individual. The Legislature finds that there is a need to provide guardians and conservators when there is no one suitable or available with priority to serve the needs of such individual. The Legislature intends that establishment of the Office of Public Guardian will provide services for individuals when no private guardian or private conservator is available. The Legislature also finds that alternatives to full guardianship and less intrusive means of intervention should always be explored, including, but not limited to, limited guardianship, temporary guardianship, conservatorship, or the appointment of a payee. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide a public guardian or public conservator only to those individuals whose needs cannot be met through less intrusive means of intervention.
(2) The Legislature finds that:
(a) All individuals in need of a guardian or conservator shall have the opportunity to have one appointed for them;
(b) The priorities for appointment in sections 30-2601 to 30-2661 are appropriate in most instances;
(c) There are individuals in need of guardians or conservators for whom persons that have priority are unwilling, unable, or inappropriate to become a guardian or conservator;
(d) Guardians and conservators under the current system do not always carry out the assigned duties in a way that protects the individual and, in fact, sometimes carry out the duties in a way that abuses or neglects the individual; and
(e) For those for whom no person is available for appointment as guardian or conservator, the Office of Public Guardian may provide necessary services.
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