Assembly BillIntroducedProbate
AB 2283: State Public Guardian.
What AB 2283 does, verified June 8, 2026
The proposed law would establish a state public guardian position to assist counties in performing their duties as a public guardian or public conservator. This guardian would provide guidance and technical assistance to local public guardians and conservators to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. The state public guardian would also promote access to training materials necessary to perform their duties, including materials for continuing education requirements. The law would support public guardianships and conservatorships under the probate code, with limitations on supporting conservatorships for persons with a grave disability.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 14, 2026 | Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.) |
| May. 13, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 26, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar. 25, 2026 | Read second time and amended. |
Latest bill textAmended version, March 25, 2026 · 778 words
| Amended IN Assembly March 25, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2283
| Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez |
February 19, 2026 |
An act to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2960) to Part 5 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, relating to public guardians.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2283, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. State Public Guardian.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services in the California Health and Human Services Agency.
Existing law authorizes the public guardian, a county position, to apply for appointment as guardian or conservator of the person, estate, or both, of any person domiciled in the county requiring a guardian or conservator if there is no one else who is qualified and willing to act and whose appointment would be in the best interest of the person, or if there is an imminent threat to a person’s health or safety or the person’s estate. The public guardian is required to apply for appointment if ordered by the court.
This bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Judicial Council State Department of Social Services to establish the position of the State Public Guardian to assist counties with performing their duties as a public guardian or public conservator. The bill would require the State Public Guardian to perform specified duties, including, among other things, providing guidance and technical assistance to local public guardians and public conservators to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and promoting access to training materials necessary to perform the duties of a public guardian or public conservator, including materials required for compliance with continuing education requirements. The bill would limit the duties of the State Public Guardian to support of public guardianships and public conservatorships under the Probate Code and, to the extent possible, not those conservatorships for persons with a grave disability pursuant to the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Public guardians and public conservators are a critical component to ensuring those who are unable to provide for their basic needs or financial affairs and are without an available family member, friend, or other relationship are given the advocacy to protect their interests and manage their care.
(b) Public guardians and public conservators are facing overwhelming caseloads with limited support from local governments and without guidance from the state.
(c) The need for public guardians and public conservators is likely to grow as California’s aging population increases and as older Californians face increasing isolation.
SEC. 2.
Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2960) is added to Part 5 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, to read:CHAPTER 6. State Public Guardian
2960.
(a) The(b) The State Public Guardian shall report to the Judicial Council. department. The State Public Guardian shall assist counties with performing their duties as a public guardian or public conservator.
(c) The duties of the State Public Guardian shall include the following:
(1) Provide guidance and technical assistance to local public guardians and public conservators to ensure compliance with state and federal laws related to guardianship and conservatorship.
(2) Promote access to training materials necessary to perform the duties of a public guardian or public conservator, including those materials required for compliance with continuing education requirements as set forth in Section 2923.
(3) Review existing policies related to probate guardianship and conservatorship and provide recommendations to the Legislature for statutory changes.
(4) In consultation with the State Department of Social Services, develop Develop a standardized referral form for use by individuals and agencies to submit to their local public guardian or public conservator to request the initiation of a public guardianship or public conservatorship.
(5) Explore the development of a single standardized reporting system to identify gaps in caseload management and provide recommendations to the Judicial Council to address the needs of local public guardians and public conservators.
(d) (1) The duties of the State Public Guardian described in subdivision (c) shall be limited to the support of implementation and execution of the duties of local public guardians and public conservators pursuant to the Probate Code.
(2) To the extent possible, the State Public Conservator shall not provide support with conservatorships for persons with a grave disability pursuant to the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, as described in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Text of AB 2283 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions