SENATE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. CS for CS for SB 374
    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 840922
                            CHAMBER ACTION
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11  Senator Rossin moved the following amendment:
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13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 
14         On page 8, between lines 12 and 13,
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16  insert:  
17         Section 7.  Section 744.387, Florida Statutes, is
18  amended to read:
19         744.387  Settlement of claims.--
20         (1)  When a settlement of any claim by or against the
21  guardian, whether arising as a result of personal injury or
22  otherwise, and whether arising before or after appointment of
23  a guardian, is proposed, but before an action to enforce it is
24  begun, on petition by the guardian of the property stating the
25  facts of the claim, question, or dispute and the proposed
26  settlement, and on any evidence that is introduced, the court
27  may enter an order authorizing the settlement if satisfied
28  that the settlement will be for the best interest of the ward.
29  The order shall relieve the guardian from any further
30  responsibility in connection with the claim or dispute when
31  the settlement has been made in accordance with the order.
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    3:44 PM   04/27/01                              s0374c2c-35j01

SENATE AMENDMENT Bill No. CS for CS for SB 374 Amendment No. ___ Barcode 840922 1 The order authorizing the settlement may also determine 2 whether an additional bond is required and, if so, shall fix 3 the amount of it. 4 (2) In the same manner as provided in subsection (1) 5 or as authorized by s. 744.301, the natural guardians or 6 guardian of a minor may settle any claim by or on behalf of a 7 minor that does not exceed $15,000 $5,000 without bond. A 8 legal guardianship shall be required when the amount of the 9 net settlement to the ward exceeds $15,000 $5,000. 10 (3)(a) No settlement after an action has been 11 commenced by or on behalf of a ward shall be effective unless 12 approved by the court having jurisdiction of the action. 13 (b) In the event of settlement or judgment in favor of 14 the ward or minor, the court may authorize the natural 15 guardians or guardian, or a guardian of the property appointed 16 by a court of competent jurisdiction, to collect the amount of 17 the settlement or judgment and to execute a release or 18 satisfaction. When the amount of net settlement to the ward 19 or judgment exceeds $15,000 $5,000 and no guardian has been 20 appointed, the court shall require the appointment of a 21 guardian for the property. 22 (4) In making a settlement under court order as 23 provided in this section, the guardian is authorized to 24 execute any instrument that may be necessary to effect the 25 settlement. When executed, the instrument shall be a complete 26 release of the person making the settlement. 27 Section 8. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 744.301, 28 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 29 744.301 Natural guardians.-- 30 (2) The natural guardian or guardians are authorized, 31 on behalf of any of their minor children, to settle and 2 3:44 PM 04/27/01 s0374c2c-35j01
SENATE AMENDMENT Bill No. CS for CS for SB 374 Amendment No. ___ Barcode 840922 1 consummate a settlement of any claim or cause of action 2 accruing to any of their minor children for damages to the 3 person or property of any of said minor children and to 4 collect, receive, manage, and dispose of the proceeds of any 5 such settlement and of any other real or personal property 6 distributed from an estate or trust or proceeds from a life 7 insurance policy to, or otherwise accruing to the benefit of, 8 the child during minority, when the amount involved in any 9 instance does not exceed $15,000 $5,000, without appointment, 10 authority, or bond. 11 (4)(a) In any case where a minor has a claim for 12 personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death in which 13 the gross settlement for the claim of the minor equals or 14 exceeds $15,000 $10,000, the court may, prior to the approval 15 of the settlement of the minor's claim, appoint a guardian ad 16 litem to represent the minor's interests. In any case in 17 which the gross settlement involving a minor equals or exceeds 18 $25,000, the court shall, prior to the approval of the 19 settlement of the minor's claim, appoint a guardian ad litem 20 to represent the minor's interests. The appointment of the 21 guardian ad litem must be without the necessity of bond or a 22 notice. The duty of the guardian ad litem is to protect the 23 minor's interests. The procedure for carrying out that duty 24 is as prescribed in the Florida Probate Rules. If a legal 25 guardian of the minor has previously been appointed and has no 26 potential adverse interest to the minor, the court may not 27 appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the minor's 28 interests, unless the court determines that the appointment is 29 otherwise necessary. 30 (b) Unless waived, the court shall award reasonable 31 fees and costs to the guardian ad litem to be paid out of the 3 3:44 PM 04/27/01 s0374c2c-35j01
SENATE AMENDMENT Bill No. CS for CS for SB 374 Amendment No. ___ Barcode 840922 1 gross proceeds of the settlement. 2 3 (Redesignate subsequent sections.) 4 5 6 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 7 And the title is amended as follows: 8 On page 1, line 25, after the semicolon, 9 10 insert: 11 amending s. 744.387, F.S.; raising the amount 12 of a claim that may be settled by a natural 13 guardian of a minor without the necessity of 14 appointment of a legal guardian; amending s. 15 744.301, F.S.; raising the amount of a claim 16 that may be settled by a natural guardian of a 17 minor without the necessity of appointment of a 18 guardian ad litem; 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 4 3:44 PM 04/27/01 s0374c2c-35j01