About the Task Force
The Legislative Task Force on Guardianship was created to improve guardianship in Minnesota and to explore other options for supported decision-making. Members of the task force want to:
- Find more good guardians and make sure they are paid fairly.
- Figure out how to pay for guardianships and other support options long-term.
- Look into creating a system to certify or license guardians.
- Create guides and training for guardians.
- Make it easier to report problems with guardians.
- Find ways to help people stay in their communities and make decisions without a full guardianship.
- Make sure guardianship is only used when necessary.
- Protect the rights of people under guardianship, including their right to fair treatment.
We are talking to many different groups, including the public, judges, people under guardianship, guardians themselves, advocates, and lawyers. The task force will hold public meetings and ask for input as we develop suggestions that will make the guardianship system in Minnesota better for everyone.
Visit the Secretary of State’s website for more information about the task force.
Task Force Members
- Lisa Antony-Thomas
- Dawn Bly
- Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Chairwoman
- Rosalie Eisenreich, Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living
- Aisha Elmquist, Director, Olmstead Implementation Office
- Rep. Sandra Feist
- Genevieve Gaboriault, Deputy Ombudsman for Long Term Care
- Jennifer Giesen, Minnesota Disability Law Center
- Kevin Gerdes
- Cindy Hagen
- Heather Kainz
- Senator Michael Kreun
- Hon. David Lutz, Judge of District Court, First Judicial District
- Lynn MacDonald
- Rep. Danny Nadeau
- Kody Olson, Disability Systems Planner, Minnesota Department of Health
- Anita Raymond, Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making
- Bonnie Jean Smith
- Kristine Sundberg, Elder Voice Advocates
- Jessica Timmington Lindstrom, Minnesota Association for Guardianship & Conservatorship
- Megan Thomas, Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators
- Amanda Vickstrom, Minnesota Elder Justice Center
- Nikki Villavicencio, Task Force Chair
- Emily Weichsel, Adult Representation Services
- Darlene Zangara, Executive Director, Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard-of-Hearing
Upcoming Meetings
To Be Determined
Meeting Minutes
Task force meeting minutes. We will post the meeting minutes when they are available.