Guardianship providers urge $9.1M appropriation for PASS program, warn of capacity shortfall

Nonprofit guardianship providers asked the Senate Government Operations Committee to increase state PASS funding to $9.1 million so certified guardians can accept more court appointments for adults who lack capacity and who meet program eligibility.

Margo Hout, founder of Guardian Angels Incorporated and president of the Guardianship Association of North Dakota (GAND), asked the committee for support to raise the appropriation and said a higher daily reimbursement rate would allow entities to hire and certify more professional guardians.

"I respectfully urge your approval for the appropriation level of $9,100,000," Hout told the committee, citing an increase in caseloads and a cap the program places on the number of protected persons each entity may serve.

Scott Bernstein, executive director of Guardian and Protective Services, said the increase is needed to sustain services and to expand capacity statewide. Bernstein provided a detailed operational critique of how PASS funds have been managed and warned…