5355. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 24, Sec. 131.)

If the conservatorship investigation results in a recommendation for conservatorship, the recommendation shall designate the most suitable person, corporation, state or local agency or county officer, or employee designated by the county to serve as conservator. No person, corporation, or agency shall be designated as conservator whose interests, activities, obligations or responsibilities are such as to compromise his or her or their ability to represent and safeguard the interests of the conservatee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the State Department of State Hospitals from serving as guardian pursuant to Section 7284, or the function of the conservatorship investigator and conservator being exercised by the same public officer or employee. When a public guardian is appointed conservator, his or her official bond and oath as public guardian are in lieu of the conservator’s bond and oath on the grant of letters of conservatorship. No bond shall be required of any other public officer or employee appointed to serve as conservator.