<section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-101" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Supported decision making” means a process by which an adult, with or without having entered a supported decision–making agreement, utilizes support from a series of relationships in order to make, communicate, or effectuate the adult’s own life decisions.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Supported decision–making agreement” means an arrangement between an adult and a supporter or supporters that describes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>How the adult uses supported decision making to make decisions;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The rights of the adult; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The responsibilities of the supporter or supporters.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Supporter” means an individual selected by an adult to provide support in making, communicating, or effectuating the adult’s own life decisions.</text> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-102" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The purpose of this title is to assist adults by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Obtaining support for the adult in making, communicating, or effectuating decisions that correspond to the will, preferences, and choices of the adult; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Preventing the need for the appointment of a substitute decision maker for the adult, including a guardian of the person or property.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This title shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.</text> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-103" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>An adult may utilize supported decision making to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Increase the adult’s self–determination;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Prevent the need for the appointment of a substitute decision maker; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Limit or terminate the use of a substitute decision maker.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>All adults are presumed capable of making a supported decision–making agreement.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The manner in which an adult communicates with others is not grounds for determining that the adult is incapable of making, changing, or revoking a supported decision–making agreement.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Execution of a supported decision–making agreement by an adult may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Be used as evidence of incapacity; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Preclude the ability of the adult to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Act independently of a supported decision–making agreement; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Access the adult’s personal information without a supporter.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-104" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an adult may voluntarily, without undue influence or coercion, enter into a supported decision–making agreement with a supporter or supporters.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>If a person under guardianship enters into a supported decision–making agreement under this title, the agreement does not supplant the authority of a guardian of the adult, unless the court authorizes the limitation or removal of guardianship due to the existence of a supported decision–making agreement.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A guardian may not prevent an adult from entering into a valid supported decision–making agreement that does not supplant the authority of the guardian without good cause.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A supported decision–making agreement or any provision of the agreement does not:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Supplant the authority of an agent under a power of attorney executed in accordance with Title 17 of this article or an advance directive executed in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the Health – General Article; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Supplant or grant authority or agency powers contemplated by a power of attorney or an advance directive.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If an adult voluntarily enters into a supported decision–making agreement with one or more supporters, the adult may authorize a supporter to provide support to the adult in making decisions in areas of the adult’s choosing, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Gathering information;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Understanding and interpreting information;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Weighing options and alternatives to a decision;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Understanding the consequences of making or not making a decision;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Participating in conversations with third parties with the adult’s explicit authorization; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Providing the adult with support and advocacy in implementing a decision.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Nothing in this title or the existence of a supported decision–making agreement may preclude the adult from acting independently of a supported decision–making agreement.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The availability of a supported decision–making agreement is not intended to limit the informal use of supported decision making or to preclude judicial consideration of informal supported decision–making arrangements as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>Execution of a supported decision–making agreement may not be a condition of participating in any activity, service, or program.</text> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-105" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A supporter shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Support the will and preference of the adult and not the supporter’s opinion of the reasonableness of the adult’s wishes, preferences, or choices;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Act honestly, diligently, and in good faith;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Act within the authority given in the supported decision–making agreement;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Avoid conflicts of interest;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Maintain records, which the supporter shall make available to the adult on request, concerning:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The supporter’s actions under the supported decision–making agreement; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>How the adult communicates and expresses opinions to the supporter;</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Keep any records and information obtained under a supported decision–making agreement:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Subject to the limitations under Title 9, Subtitle 1 of the Courts Article, confidential and privileged; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Secure from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="7"> <level label="i"> <text>Deliver a copy of the supported decision–making agreement to any duly appointed guardian of the person or property of the adult; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <level label="1"> <text>Make a good faith effort to determine if the adult has a fully executed power of attorney, advance directive, or revocable trust agreement; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Unless the adult expressly objects, deliver a copy of the supported decision–making agreement to any agent designated under a power of attorney or an advance directive or any trustee under a revocable trust agreement.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The relationship between the adult and the supporter shall be one of trust and confidence that preserves the decision–making authority of the adult.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A supporter may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Make decisions on behalf of the adult;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Exert undue influence on the adult;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Coerce the adult;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Obtain information about the adult without the adult’s consent;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Enforce decisions made by the adult; or</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Act outside of the authority granted in the supported decision–making agreement.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-106" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a supporter may be any person chosen by the adult.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The following individuals are disqualified from acting as a supporter:</text> <level label="1"> <text>A minor;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>An individual against whom the adult has obtained a peace order or a protective order;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>An individual who has been convicted of financial exploitation under Title 13, Subtitle 6 of this article; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>An individual who is the subject of a civil or criminal order prohibiting contact with the adult.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A supporter may resign as a supporter by written or oral notice to the adult, any remaining supporters of the adult named in the agreement, and any third parties who have the agreement on file.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>If a supporter resigns, dies, becomes incapable, or becomes for any other reason unable to act as a supporter and there is no alternate supporter, the authority given to the supporter is suspended.</text> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-107" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A supported decision–making agreement may be in any form consistent with the requirements under this section.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A supported decision–making agreement shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Be documented in writing;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Be dated;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Name at least one supporter;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Describe the decision–making assistance that each supporter may provide the adult;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Describe how the supporters may work together if there is more than one supporter;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Describe how any perceived or actual conflict of interest between the supporter or supporters and the adult shall be mitigated;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>Document how the adult selected the supporter or supporters;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>Be approved by the court if the adult has been appointed a guardian of the person or property and the supported decision–making agreement affects the authority of the guardian;</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>State that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The supporter or supporters may not make decisions or effectuate transactions for the adult; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The supported decision–making agreement or any provision of the agreement does not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Authorize the supporter or supporters to act on behalf of the adult;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Supplant the authority of an agent under a power of attorney executed in accordance with Title 17 of this article or an advance directive executed in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the Health – General Article; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Supplant or grant authority or agency powers contemplated by a power of attorney or an advance directive;</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="10"> <text>Contain an attestation that the supporter or supporters agree to honor the right of the adult to make decisions and that the supporter or supporters will not make decisions for the adult;</text> </level> <level label="11"> <text>Be signed by the adult and the supporter or supporters, with each signature witnessed by two adults who are not:</text> <level label="i"> <text>A supporter for the adult; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>An employee or agent of a supporter named in the supported decision–making agreement; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="12"> <text>If the adult has a fully executed power of attorney, advance directive, or revocable trust agreement and the adult does not expressly object, deliver a copy of the supported decision–making agreement to the agent designated under the power of attorney or advance directive or any trustee under the revocable trust agreement.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A supported decision–making agreement may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Appoint more than one supporter; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Appoint an alternate to act in the place of a supporter in circumstances specified in the agreement.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-108" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <text>An adult utilizing a supported decision–making agreement may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Revoke the supported decision–making agreement at any time orally, in writing, or otherwise by expressing the adult’s specific intent to revoke the agreement; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Receive any support needed from an individual of the adult’s choosing to revoke the agreement.</text> </level> </section> <section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="18-109" title_number="18" title_name="Supported Decision Making" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A third party is not subject to civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct for:</text> <level label="1"> <text>If the third party acted in good faith reliance on a decision made by an adult utilizing a supported decision–making agreement, complying with an adult’s decision in accordance with a supported decision–making agreement or otherwise complying with a supported decision–making agreement based on a good faith assumption that the supported decision–making agreement was valid when made and not revoked or abrogated; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Declining to honor a decision made by an adult utilizing a supported decision–making agreement or failing to comply with a supported decision–making agreement based on a reasonable good faith belief that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The agreement was invalid, revoked, or abrogated; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A supporter was coercing or unduly influencing the adult or otherwise acting outside the scope of the agreement.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section may not be construed to provide immunity from actions alleging that a third party has:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Caused personal injury as a result of a negligent, reckless, or intentional act;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Failed to give effect to an adult’s decision made in accordance with a valid decision–making agreement;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Failed to provide information either to the adult or a supporter of the adult that would be necessary for informed consent; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Otherwise acted inconsistently with applicable law.</text> </level> </level> </section>