HB 2277 — An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in standby and temporary guardianship, further providing for definitions and for petition for approval of a designation.

PRINTER'S NO.   2979

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2277
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, McNEILL, SANCHEZ,
        BURGOS, NEILSON, HANBIDGE, HOWARD, INGLIS, DOUGHERTY AND
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MARCH 10, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 10, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in standby and temporary guardianship,
 3      further providing for definitions and for petition for
 4      approval of a designation.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    The definition of "standby guardian" in section
 8   5602 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
 9   amended to read:
10   § 5602.    Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
12   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      * * *
15      "Standby guardian."    A person named by a designator to assume
16   the duties of coguardian or guardian of a minor and whose
17   authority becomes effective upon the incapacity, debilitation
18   and consent, long-term or indefinite absence of, or death of the
 1   minor's parent.
 2      * * *
 3      Section 2.     Section 5612(a) of Title 23 is amended to read:
 4   § 5612.    Petition for approval of a designation.
 5      (a)    General rule.--A petition for court approval of a
 6   designation under this chapter may be made at any time by filing
 7   with the court a copy of the designation. If the triggering
 8   event has not occurred on or before the time of filing, only the
 9   designator may file the petition. If the triggering event has
10   occurred on or before the time of filing, the standby guardian
11   named in the designation may file the petition, and the petition
12   shall also contain one of the following:
13             (1)   A determination of the designator's incapacity.
14             (2)   A determination of the designator's debilitation and
15      the designator's signed and dated consent.
16             (3)   Any documentation demonstrating the designator's
17      long-term or indefinite absence.
18             [(3)] (4)   A copy of the designator's death certificate.
19      * * *
20      Section 3.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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