The bill (S.2534 by Hannon/A.857 by Weinstein) has not yet been delivered to the Governor’s desk.

The Uniform Guardianship Act would prevent or minimize multi-state jurisdictional problems by establishing certain procedures to, when necessary, transfer a guardianship case to another state; enable a guardian to act in another state; and resolve jurisdictional issues concerning guardianship when more than one state is involved.  However, as a practical matter the Act will not have any effect unless the states in question have enacted it.   The Act does not change substantive guardianship law.

The Uniform Guardianship Act has been adopted by the District of Columbia and 30 states.

Click here to read the official legislative bill memo

Seneca Cayuga ARC has a guardianship committee consisting of six dedicated members of the community.  The committee currently provides support to four individuals for whom NYSARC, Inc. holds guardianship. Guardianship ensures that people with disabilities who are unable to make medical decisions or major life decisions on their own have people who can make informed, caring decisions on their behalf.  For more information on guardianship contact Terri DeJohn at (315)612-0159.

The conference theme is The Future of Guardianship and Advocacy: Looking Ahead. All of the plenary sessions, panel presentations, and workshops are designed to provide the participants with practical tools and insight about current and new developments in the health care and decision making arena that have direct impact on the lives of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families.

Download the conference brochure and registration forms (.pdf)

A grant from the NYSARC Trust (administered by NYSARC Trust Services) will cover most of the cost associated with the symposium, including registration fees as well as the food and overnight room accommodations for two (2) people from each Chapter’s Guardianship Program, which will enable them to attend this exciting program.

This year, there will be a nominal registration fee of $50.00 required for two and possibly three of the Guardianship representatives who will be attending from each of the chapters.

This symposium will begin with a special film festival sponsored by Sprout for two hours beginning late Sunday afternoon scheduled from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. This will provide an opportunity for people to arrive leisurely prior to the next two-day intensive conference. Some of the featured renowned speakers and experts include Clarence Sundram, Esq., Gary Lind, Paul Kietzman, MaryBeth Schneider; Lawrence Faulkner, Esq., Lisa Friedman, Esq., Erica Wood, Esq. and Leigh Ann Kingsbury to name but a few.

Topics range from looking at the role of the guardian in a managed care environment and a person centered approach to guardianship and decision making to ethical decision making, healthcare advocacy and planning throughout and at the end of life; hospice and palliative care; communication and promoting good guardianship to effective strategies for financial planning on behalf of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities; to accessing records by guardians, parents and other family members. Also, the second annual Guardianship and Recognition Award will be presented after dinner on Monday evening, April 16th.

Should you have any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact Patti Conroy at conroyp@nysarc.org, or Erica Berman at bermane@nysarc.org.

Please share or forward the program and accompanying documents on to families, providers, attorneys, members of your health care profession, and others in your community who might benefit from attending this conference.

The Future of Guardianship and Advocacy: Looking Ahead

Gideon-Putnam Resort & Spa
Saratoga Springs, NY

April 15-17, 2012

Registration form will be available shortly!