A. In all hearings conducted pursuant to Article III of the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act, an individual who is alleged to be or found to be an incapacitated or partially incapacitated person shall have a right to:

1. Notice as provided in Section 3-110 of this title;

2. Be present at such hearings;

3. Compel the attendance of witnesses;

4. Present evidence;

5. Cross-examine witnesses;

6. Appeal adverse orders and judgments as provided by the rules of civil procedure;

7. Representation by court-appointed counsel upon request; and

8. Request that the proceedings be closed to the public.

B. The requirement of notice to the subject of the proceeding shall not be waived. The requirement that the subject of the proceeding be present at a hearing may be waived only for good cause shown. The court shall make inquiries to determine whether there is sufficient cause to waive the right to be present. Whenever the requirement that the subject of the proceeding be present is waived, the court shall make a finding on the record as to the reason the subject of the proceeding is not present at the proceeding and the alternatives which were considered to enable the subject of the proceeding to be present.

C. Any person may apply for permission to participate in a proceeding or to be admitted to a proceeding which has been closed to the public. The court may grant the request to participate upon determining that the best interest of the subject of the proceeding will be served thereby. The court may, for good cause shown, grant the request of such person for permission to be admitted to the closed proceeding upon determining that said person has a legitimate interest in the proceedings. In granting either request, the court may impose any appropriate conditions it deems necessary.

D. If the subject of the proceeding is under the influence of psychotropic medication, during any judicial hearing held pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act, the court shall be advised of this fact, the purpose of the medication, and the effect which it may have on the individual's actions, demeanor and participation at the hearing.

E. Statements of individuals alleged or found to be partially incapacitated or incapacitated persons made during the course of the evaluations, examinations and treatment pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act shall be privileged and confidential. Such statements shall not be admissible without the individual's consent in any civil or criminal proceeding other than a proceeding held pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act.

F. A party to a proceeding held pursuant to the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act may be relieved of court costs and filing fees as specified by Section 152 of Title 28 of the Oklahoma Statutes or as provided by Section 192 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

G. At the request of any party to a proceeding pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Guardianship and Conservatorship Act, the court shall order that a stenographic or mechanical record of the proceeding be made.

Added by Laws 1988, c. 329, § 43, eff. Dec. 1, 1988. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 323, § 29, operative July 1, 1990.