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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 30, 2022
Governor Newsom Signs Civil Rights Assembly Bill 1663
The Probate Conservatorship Reform and Supported Decision-Making Act
 Conservatorship reform comes to California on January 1, 2023!
SACRAMENTO–Conservatorship reform has come to California with Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature on Assembly Bill AB 1663 (Maienschein), co-sponsored by the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. The Probate Conservatorship Reform Act was introduced and championed by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) and championed by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).
 
This civil rights bill will reform the state’s probate conservatorship system that allowed the decade-plus mistreatment of the world’s most famous conservatee, Britney Spears, whose battle to end her conservatorship was terminated in 2021.
 
With AB 1663, California’s seniors, and people with disabilities will have less-restrictive alternatives, including supported decision-making—to probate conservatorships. Additionally, greater protections will be put in place for conservatees to make sure they maintain choice and control over their lives—instead of being confined to a long-term or permanent conservatorship without recourse.
 
By establishing supported decision-making in statute—a person entering a conservatorship can now choose a trusted person or team of trusted people to help them understand, review, and express their choices—giving them support without unnecessary court interference.
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