Senator Blake Spear’s SB 561 moves out of Judiciary Committee after testimony on public-guardian delays

Senator Blake Spear asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance SB 561, saying the bill would add accountability to the public guardian’s investigation process for probate conservatorships and require public guardians to complete investigations within a reasonable time and provide status updates to referring parties. "This will ensure vulnerable adults who lack decision making capacity are not lost in bureaucracy and receive the assistance they need in a timely manner," Spear said.

Paul Yoder, appearing on behalf of the California State Association of Psychiatrists, urged support and described the bill as an effort to improve an existing process rather than create a new one. "We're we're not trying to create a new process. We're trying to make the existing process better," Yoder said, urging members to vote for the measure after recounting that referrals to public guardians can take months and sometimes go without notice.

Senator Kevin Niello questioned the timing and the recent "gut and amend" history of the measure, asking why the committee should act now rather than leave ambiguity to be addressed next year. Spear answered that the change from a specific 15‑day deadline to a requirement for a "reasonable amount of time" reflects negotiated changes prompted by stakeholder input and that the psychiatric association had documented harmful delays, including a case in Santa Clara County in which an individual died before a conservatorship investigation concluded.

After brief remarks from Senator Laird endorsing the bill as addressing a valid problem, the committee moved to conclude consideration. Senator Laird moved the motion to concur in the assembly amendments; the committee recorded a 9–0 vote in favor and the chair announced, "That bill is out." The recorded roll-call names were read by the committee clerk; the tally was nine ayes, zero no votes.