A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish training requirements for hearing officers in guardianship cases.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 35A‑1203(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Clerks of superior court in their respective counties have original jurisdiction for the appointment of guardians of the person, guardians of the estate, or general guardians for incompetent persons and of related proceedings brought or filed under this Subchapter. Clerks of superior court in their respective counties have original jurisdiction for the appointment of guardians of the estate for minors, for the appointment of guardians of the person or general guardians for minors who have no natural guardian, and of related proceedings brought or filed under this Subchapter. No clerk of superior court, assistant clerk, or other person appointed by a clerk of superior court who is not a licensed attorney, shall preside over a guardianship case pursuant to the clerk's judicial power case without first being provided with training on the law and procedure of such cases by the faculty of the Institute of Government or other appropriate persons, as determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2004, and applies to persons appointed on or after that date.