Cal. Probate Code - PROB 2. — CHAPTER 2. Prefiling Investigation by Public Guardian [2910. - 2911.] | Probate Code - PROB — California

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 2910. Section 2910.

(a) Upon a showing of probable cause to believe that a person is in substantial danger of abuse or neglect and needs a conservator of the person, the estate, or the person and estate for his or her own protection, the public guardian or the county’s adult protective services agency may petition for either or both of the orders of the court provided in subdivision (b) in connection with his or her investigation to determine whether a petition for the appointment of the public guardian as conservator of the person, estate, or the person and estate of the person would be necessary or appropriate. (b) The petition may request either or both of the following orders for the limited purposes of the investigation concerning a person: (1) An order authorizing identified health care providers or organizations to provide private medical information about the person to the public guardian’s authorized representatives. (2) An order authorizing identified financial institutions or advisers, accountants, and others with financial information about the person to provide the information to the public guardian’s authorized representatives. (c) Notice of the hearing and a copy of the petition shall be served on the person who is the subject of the investigation in the manner and for the period required by Section 1460 or, on application of the public guardian contained in or accompanying the petition, on an expedited basis in the manner and for the period ordered by the court. The court may dispense with notice of the hearing only on a showing of facts demonstrating an immediate threat of substantial harm to the person if notice is given.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 2911. Section 2911.

A court order issued in response to a public guardian’s petition pursuant to Section 2910 shall do all of the following: (a) Authorize health care providers to disclose a person’s confidential medical information as permitted under California law, and also authorize disclosure of the information under federal medical privacy regulations enacted pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. (b) Direct the public guardian or the adult protective services agency to keep the information acquired under the order confidential, except as disclosed in a judicial proceeding or as required by law enforcement or an authorized regulatory agency. (c) Direct the public guardian or the adult protective services agency to destroy all copies of written information obtained under the order or give them to the person who was the subject of the investigation if a conservatorship proceeding is not commenced within 60 days after the date of the order. The court may extend this time period as the court finds to be in the subject’s best interest.