Assembly Bill No. 151–Committee on Judiciary

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to public guardians; authorizing a public guardian to appoint deputies; providing for the compensation of such deputies; providing that an appointed public guardian serves at the pleasure of the board of county commissioners; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. Chapter 253 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

thereto a new section to read as follows:

    1.  A public guardian may appoint deputies to perform the

duties of his office. A deputy so appointed may transact all official

business relating to the office of the public guardian to the same

extent as the public guardian, except that the deputy is not

authorized to establish or change the policies of the office or to

employ or terminate the employment of subordinates in the office.

Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, each deputy

must take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office.

    2.  Each appointment must be in writing and recorded, with

the oath of office of that deputy, in the office of the county

recorder. Any revocation or resignation of an appointment must

be recorded in the office of the county recorder.

    3.  The public guardian is responsible on his official bond for

any official malfeasance or nonfeasance of his deputies and may

require a bond for the faithful performance of the official duties

of his deputies.

    4.  The compensation of a deputy public guardian must be

fixed by the board of county commissioners and paid out of the

county general fund.

    Sec. 2.  NRS 253.150 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    253.150  1.  The board of county commissioners of any county

may establish the office of public guardian.

    2.  The board of county commissioners may:

    (a) Appoint [the] a public guardian , who serves at the pleasure

of the board, for a term of 4 years from the day of appointment; or

    (b) Designate an elected or appointed county officer as ex

officio public guardian.

    3.  The compensation of a public guardian appointed or

designated pursuant to subsection 2 must be fixed by the board of

county commissioners and paid out of the county general fund.

    Sec. 3.  NRS 253.170 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    253.170  1.  If [any] a vacancy occurs in the office of public

guardian before the expiration of a normal term, the vacancy shall

be filled promptly by the board of county commissioners.

    2.  The [district court] board of county commissioners may

designate any qualified person to serve as acting public guardian

until a vacancy in such office is filled.

    Sec. 4.  NRS 253.180 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    253.180  Within the limits of appropriations for his office, a

public guardian may:

    1.  Employ such subordinates , including, without limitation,

deputies appointed pursuant to section 1 of this act, as authorized

by the board of county commissioners and as necessary for the

proper performance of his duties.

    2.  Contract for the services of consultants or assistants.

    Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

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