Florida Senate - 2005                      COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. SB 1958
                        Barcode 342746
                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  The Committee on Judiciary (Aronberg) recommended the
12  following amendment:
13  
14         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 
15         Delete everything after the enacting clause
16  
17  and insert:  
18         Section 1.  Section 744.102, Florida Statutes, is
19  amended to read:
20         744.102  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the
21  term:
22         (1)  "Attorney for the alleged incapacitated person"
23  means an attorney who represents the alleged incapacitated
24  person. The Such attorney shall represent the expressed wishes
25  of the alleged incapacitated person to the extent it is
26  consistent with the rules regulating The Florida Bar.
27         (2)  "Audit" means a systematic review of financial
28  documents with adherence to generally accepted auditing
29  standards.
30         (3)(2)  "Clerk" means the clerk or deputy clerk of the
31  court.
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Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (4)(3) "Corporate guardian" means a corporation 2 authorized to exercise fiduciary or guardianship powers in 3 this state and includes a nonprofit corporate guardian. 4 (5)(4) "Court" means the circuit court. 5 (6)(5) "Court monitor" means a person appointed by the 6 court under pursuant to s. 744.107 to provide the court with 7 information concerning a ward. 8 (7)(6) "Estate" means the property of a ward subject 9 to administration. 10 (8)(7) "Foreign guardian" means a guardian appointed 11 in another state or country. 12 (9)(8) "Guardian" means a person who has been 13 appointed by the court to act on behalf of a ward's person or 14 property, or both. 15 (a) "Limited guardian" means a guardian who has been 16 appointed by the court to exercise the legal rights and powers 17 specifically designated by court order entered after the court 18 has found that the ward lacks the capacity to do some, but not 19 all, of the tasks necessary to care for his or her person or 20 property, or after the person has voluntarily petitioned for 21 appointment of a limited guardian. 22 (b) "Plenary guardian" means a person who has been 23 appointed by the court to exercise all delegable legal rights 24 and powers of the ward after the court has found that the ward 25 lacks the capacity to perform all of the tasks necessary to 26 care for his or her person or property. 27 (10)(9) "Guardian ad litem" means a person who is 28 appointed by the court having jurisdiction of the guardianship 29 or a court in which a particular legal matter is pending to 30 represent a ward in that proceeding. 31 (11)(10) "Guardian advocate" means a person appointed 2 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 by a written order of the court to represent a person with 2 developmental disabilities under s. 393.12. As used in this 3 chapter, the term does not apply to a guardian advocate 4 appointed for a person determined incompetent to consent to 5 treatment under s. 394.4598. 6 (12)(11) "Incapacitated person" means a person who has 7 been judicially determined to lack the capacity to manage at 8 least some of the property or to meet at least some of the 9 essential health and safety requirements of the such person. 10 (a) To "manage property" means to take those actions 11 necessary to obtain, administer, and dispose of real and 12 personal property, intangible property, business property, 13 benefits, and income. 14 (b) To "meet essential requirements for health or 15 safety" means to take those actions necessary to provide the 16 health care, food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene, or 17 other care without which serious and imminent physical injury 18 or illness is more likely than not to occur. 19 (13)(12) "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age 20 whose disabilities have not been removed by marriage or 21 otherwise. 22 (14)(13) "Next of kin" means those persons who would 23 be heirs at law of the ward or alleged incapacitated person if 24 the such person were deceased and includes the lineal 25 descendants of the such ward or alleged incapacitated person. 26 (15)(14) "Nonprofit corporate guardian" means a 27 nonprofit corporation organized for religious or charitable 28 purposes and existing under the laws of this state. 29 (16)(15) "Preneed guardian" means a person named in a 30 written declaration to serve as guardian in the event of the 31 incapacity of the declarant as provided in s. 744.3045. 3 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (17)(16) "Professional guardian" means any guardian 2 who receives or has at any time received compensation for 3 services rendered services to three or more than two wards as 4 their guardian. A person serving as a guardian for two or more 5 relatives as defined in s. 744.309(2) is not considered a 6 professional guardian. A public guardian shall be considered a 7 professional guardian for purposes of regulation, education, 8 and registration. 9 (18)(17) "Property" means both real and personal 10 property or any interest in it and anything that may be the 11 subject of ownership. 12 (19)(18) "Standby guardian" means a person empowered 13 to assume the duties of guardianship upon the death or 14 adjudication of incapacity of the last surviving natural or 15 appointed guardian. 16 (20) "Surrogate guardian" means a guardian designated 17 according to s. 744.442. 18 (21)(19) "Totally incapacitated" means incapable of 19 exercising any of the rights enumerated in s. 744.3215(2) and 20 (3). 21 (22)(20) "Ward" means a person for whom a guardian has 22 been appointed. 23 Section 2. Subsections (5) and (10) of section 24 744.1083, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 25 744.1083 Professional guardian registration.-- 26 (5) The executive director of the office may deny 27 registration to a professional guardian if the executive 28 director determines that the guardian's proposed registration, 29 including the guardian's credit or criminal investigations, 30 indicates that registering the professional guardian would 31 violate any provision of this chapter. If a guardian who is 4 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 currently registered with the office violates a provision of 2 this chapter, the executive director of the office may suspend 3 or revoke the guardian's registration. If the executive 4 director denies registration to a professional guardian or 5 suspends or revokes a professional guardian's registration, 6 the Statewide Public Guardianship Office must send written 7 notification of the denial, supervision, or revocation to the 8 chief judge of each judicial circuit in which the guardian was 9 serving on the day of the office's decision to deny, suspend, 10 or revoke the registration. 11 (10) A state college or university or an independent 12 college or university described in s. 1009.98(3)(a), may, but 13 is not required to, register as a professional guardian under 14 this section. If a state college or university or independent 15 college or university elects to register as a professional 16 guardian under this subsection, the requirements of 17 subsections (3) and (4) subsection (3) do not apply and the 18 registration must include only the name, address, and employer 19 identification number of the registrant. 20 Section 3. Section 744.301, Florida Statutes, is 21 amended to read: 22 744.301 Natural guardians.-- 23 (1) The mother and father jointly are natural 24 guardians of their own children and of their adopted children, 25 during minority. If one parent dies, the surviving parent 26 remains the sole natural guardian even if he or she the 27 natural guardianship shall pass to the surviving parent, and 28 the right shall continue even though the surviving parent 29 remarries. If the marriage between the parents is dissolved, 30 the natural guardianship belongs shall belong to the parent to 31 whom the custody of the child is awarded. If the parents are 5 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 given joint custody, then both shall continue as natural 2 guardians. If the marriage is dissolved and neither the 3 father nor the mother is given custody of the child, neither 4 shall act as natural guardian of the child. The mother of a 5 child born out of wedlock is the natural guardian of the child 6 and is entitled to primary residential care and custody of the 7 child unless a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order 8 stating otherwise. 9 (2) The Natural guardian or guardians are authorized, 10 on behalf of any of their minor children, to settle and 11 consummate a settlement of any claim or cause of action 12 accruing to any of their minor children for damages to the 13 person or property of any of said minor children and to 14 collect, receive, and manage, and dispose of the proceeds of 15 any such settlement and of any other real or personal property 16 distributed from an estate or trust or proceeds from a life 17 insurance policy to, or otherwise accruing to the benefit of, 18 the child during minority, when the amounts received, in the 19 aggregate, do amount involved in any instance does not exceed 20 $15,000, without appointment, authority, or bond. 21 (3) All instruments executed by a natural guardian for 22 the benefit of the ward under the powers specified provided 23 for in subsection (2) shall be binding on the ward. The 24 natural guardian may not, without a court order, use the 25 property of the ward for the guardian's benefit or to satisfy 26 the guardian's support obligation to the ward. 27 (4)(a) In any case where a minor has a claim for 28 personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death in which 29 the gross settlement for the claim of the minor exceeds 30 $15,000, the court may, prior to the approval of the 31 settlement of the minor's claim, appoint a guardian ad litem 6 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 to represent the minor's interests. In any case in which the 2 gross settlement involving a minor equals or exceeds $25,000, 3 the court shall, prior to the approval of the settlement of 4 the minor's claim, appoint a guardian ad litem to represent 5 the minor's interests. The appointment of the guardian ad 6 litem must be without the necessity of bond or a notice. The 7 duty of the guardian ad litem is to protect the minor's 8 interests. The procedure for carrying out that duty is as 9 prescribed in the Florida Probate Rules. If a legal guardian 10 of the minor has previously been appointed and has no 11 potential adverse interest to the minor, the court may not 12 appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the minor's 13 interests, unless the court determines that the appointment is 14 otherwise necessary. 15 (b) Unless waived, the court shall award reasonable 16 fees and costs to the guardian ad litem to be paid out of the 17 gross proceeds of the settlement. 18 Section 4. Section 744.3025, Florida Statutes, is 19 created to read: 20 744.3025 Claims of minors.-- 21 (1)(a) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to 22 represent the minor's interest, before approving a settlement 23 of the minor's portion of the claim, in any case in which a 24 minor has a claim for personal injury, property damage, 25 wrongful death, or other cause of action in which the gross 26 settlement of the claim exceeds $15,000. 27 (b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to 28 represent the minor's interest before approving a settlement 29 of the minor's claim, in any case in which the gross 30 settlement involving a minor equals or exceeds $50,000. 31 (c) The appointment of the guardian ad litem must be 7 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 without the necessity of bond or notice. 2 (d) The duty of the guardian ad litem is to protect 3 the minor's interests as described in the Florida Probate 4 Rules. 5 (e) A court need not appoint a guardian ad litem for 6 the child if a guardian of the minor has previously been 7 appointed and that guardian has no potential adverse interest 8 to the minor. A court may appoint a guardian ad litem if the 9 court believes a guardian ad litem is necessary to protect the 10 interests of the minor. 11 (2) Unless waived, the court shall award reasonable 12 fees and costs to the guardian ad litem to be paid out of the 13 gross proceeds of the settlement. 14 Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 744.3031, Florida 15 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that 16 section, to read: 17 744.3031 Emergency temporary guardianship.-- 18 (3) The authority of an emergency temporary guardian 19 expires 90 60 days after the date of appointment or when a 20 guardian is appointed, whichever occurs first. The authority 21 of the emergency temporary guardian may be extended for an 22 additional 90 30 days upon a showing that the emergency 23 conditions still exist. 24 (8)(a) An emergency temporary guardian shall file a 25 final report no later than 30 days after the expiration of the 26 emergency temporary guardianship. 27 (b) An emergency temporary guardianship is a guardian 28 for the property. The final report must consist of a verified 29 inventory of the property, as provided in s. 744.365, as of 30 the date the letters of emergency temporary guardianship were 31 issued, a final accounting that gives a full and correct 8 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 account of the receipts and disbursements of all the property 2 of the ward over which the guardian had control, and a 3 statement of the property of the ward on hand at the end of 4 the emergency temporary guardianship. If the emergency 5 temporary guardian becomes the successor guardian of the 6 property, the final report must satisfy the requirements of 7 the initial guardianship report for the guardian of the 8 property as provided in s. 744.362. 9 (c) If the emergency temporary guardian is a guardian 10 of the person, the final report must summarize the activities 11 of the temporary guardian with regard to residential 12 placement, medical condition, mental health and rehabilitative 13 services, and the social condition of the ward to the extent 14 of the authority granted to the temporary guardian in the 15 letters of guardianship. If the emergency temporary guardian 16 becomes the successor guardian of the person, the report must 17 satisfy the requirements of the initial report for a guardian 18 of the person as stated in s. 744.362. 19 (d) A copy of the final report of the emergency 20 temporary guardianship shall be served on the successor 21 guardian and the ward. 22 Section 6. Section 744.304, Florida Statutes, is 23 amended to read: 24 744.304 Standby guardianship.-- 25 (1) Upon a petition by the natural guardians or a 26 guardian appointed under s. 744.3021, the court may appoint a 27 standby guardian of the person or property of a minor or 28 consent of both parents, natural or adoptive, if living, or of 29 the surviving parent, a standby guardian of the person or 30 property of a minor may be appointed by the court. The court 31 may also appoint an alternate to the guardian to act if the 9 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 standby guardian does not serve or ceases to serve after 2 appointment. Notice of a hearing on the petition must be 3 served on the parents, natural or adoptive, and on any 4 guardian currently serving unless the notice is waived in 5 writing by them or waived by the court for good cause shown 6 shall renounce, die, or become incapacitated after the death 7 of the last surviving parent of the minor. 8 (2) Upon petition of a currently serving guardian, a 9 standby guardian of the person or property of an incapacitated 10 person may be appointed by the court. Notice of the hearing 11 shall be served on the ward's next of kin. 12 (3) The standby guardian or alternate shall be 13 empowered to assume the duties of guardianship his or her 14 office immediately on the death, removal, or resignation of 15 the guardian of a minor, or on the death or adjudication of 16 incapacity of the last surviving natural guardian or adoptive 17 parent of a minor, or upon the death, removal, or resignation 18 of the guardian for an adult. The; however, such a guardian of 19 the ward's property may not be empowered to deal with the 20 ward's property, other than to safeguard it, before prior to 21 issuance of letters of guardianship. If the ward 22 incapacitated person is over the age of 18 years, the court 23 shall conduct a hearing as provided in s. 744.331 before 24 confirming the appointment of the standby guardian, unless the 25 ward has previously been found to be incapacitated. 26 (4) Within 20 days after assumption of duties as 27 guardian, a standby guardian shall petition for confirmation 28 of appointment. If the court finds the standby guardian to be 29 qualified to serve as guardian under pursuant to ss. 744.309 30 and 744.312, appointment of the guardian must be confirmed. 31 Each guardian so confirmed shall file an oath in accordance 10 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 with s. 744.347, and shall file a bond and submit to a credit 2 and criminal investigation as set forth in s. 744.3135, if 3 required. Letters of guardianship must then be issued in the 4 manner provided in s. 744.345. 5 (5) After the assumption of duties by a standby 6 guardian, the court shall have jurisdiction over the guardian 7 and the ward. 8 Section 7. Section 744.3115, Florida Statutes, is 9 amended to read: 10 744.3115 Advance directives for health care.--In each 11 proceeding in which a guardian is appointed under this 12 chapter, the court shall determine whether the ward, prior to 13 incapacity, has executed any valid advance directive under 14 pursuant to chapter 765. If any such advance directive exists, 15 the court shall specify in its order and letters of 16 guardianship what authority, if any, the guardian shall 17 exercise over the surrogate. Pursuant to the grounds listed in 18 s. 765.105, the court, upon its own motion, may, with notice 19 to the surrogate and any other appropriate parties, modify or 20 revoke the authority of the surrogate to make health care 21 decisions for the ward. For purposes of this section, the term 22 "health care decision" has the same meaning as in s. 765.101. 23 Section 8. Section 744.3135, Florida Statutes, is 24 amended to read: 25 744.3135 Credit and criminal investigation.-- 26 (1) The court may require a nonprofessional guardian 27 and shall require a professional or public guardian, and all 28 employees of a professional guardian who have a fiduciary 29 responsibility to a ward, to submit, at their own expense, to 30 an investigation of the guardian's credit history and to 31 undergo level 2 background screening as required under s. 11 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 435.04. If a credit or criminal investigation is required, the 2 court must consider the results of any investigation before 3 appointing a guardian. At any time, the court may require a 4 guardian or its employees to submit to an investigation of the 5 person's credit history and complete a level 1 background 6 screening as set forth in s. 435.03. The court shall consider 7 the results of any investigation when reappointing a guardian. 8 The clerk of the court shall maintain a file on each guardian 9 appointed by the court and retain documentation of the result 10 of any investigation conducted under this section in the file. 11 A professional guardian must pay the clerk of the court a fee 12 of up to $7.50 for handling and processing professional 13 guardian files. 14 (2) The court and the Statewide Public Guardianship 15 Office shall accept the satisfactory completion of a criminal 16 background investigation by any method described in this 17 subsection. A guardian satisfies the requirements of this 18 section by undergoing: 19 (a) An inkless electronic fingerprint criminal 20 background investigation. A guardian may use any inkless 21 electronic fingerprinting equipment used for criminal 22 background investigations of public employees. The guardian 23 shall pay the actual costs incurred by the Federal Bureau of 24 Investigation or the Department of Law Enforcement for the 25 criminal background investigation. The agency that operates 26 the equipment used by the guardian may charge the guardian an 27 additional fee, not to exceed $10, for the use of the 28 equipment. The agency completing the investigation must 29 immediately send the results of the criminal background 30 investigation to the clerk of the court and the Statewide 31 Public Guardianship Office. The clerk of the court shall 12 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 maintain the results in the guardian's file and shall make the 2 results available to the court; or 3 (b) A criminal background investigation using a 4 fingerprint card. The clerk of the court shall obtain 5 fingerprint cards from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 6 make them available to guardians. Any guardian who is so 7 required shall have his or her fingerprints taken and forward 8 the proper fingerprint card along with the necessary fee to 9 the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for processing. The 10 professional guardian shall pay to the clerk of the court a 11 fee of up to $7.50 for handling and processing professional 12 guardian files. The results of the fingerprint card background 13 investigations checks shall be forwarded to the clerk of the 14 court who shall maintain the results in the guardian's a 15 guardian file and shall make the results available to the 16 court and the Statewide Public Guardianship Office. If credit 17 or criminal investigations are required, the court must 18 consider the results of the investigations before appointing a 19 guardian. Professional guardians and all employees of a 20 professional guardian who have a fiduciary responsibility to a 21 ward, so appointed, must resubmit, at their own expense, to an 22 investigation of credit history, and undergo level 1 23 background screening as required under s. 435.03, at least 24 every 2 years after the date of their appointment. At any 25 time, the court may require guardians or their employees to 26 submit to an investigation of credit history and undergo level 27 1 background screening as required under s. 435.03. The court 28 must consider the results of these investigations in 29 reappointing a guardian. 30 (3)(a) A professional guardian, and each employee of a 31 professional guardian who has a fiduciary responsibility to a 13 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 ward, must complete, at his or her own expense, a level 2 2 background screening as set forth in s. 435.04, before and at 3 least once every 5 years after the date the guardian is 4 appointed. A professional guardian, and each employee of a 5 professional guardian who has a fiduciary responsibility to a 6 ward, must complete, at his or her own expense, a level 1 7 background screening as set forth in s. 435.03, at least once 8 every 2 years after the date the guardian is appointed. 9 However, a person is not required to resubmit fingerprints for 10 a criminal background investigation if he or she has been 11 screened using inkless electronic fingerprinting equipment 12 that is capable of notifying the clerk of the court of any 13 crime charged against the person in the State of Florida or 14 elsewhere as appropriate. 15 (b) Effective December 15, 2005, all fingerprints 16 electronically submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement 17 under this section shall be retained by the Department of Law 18 Enforcement in a manner provided by rule and entered in the 19 statewide automated fingerprint identification system 20 authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints shall 21 thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized 22 for arrest fingerprint cards entered in the statewide 23 automated fingerprint identification system under s. 943.051. 24 (c) Effective December 15, 2005, the Department of Law 25 Enforcement shall search all arrest fingerprint cards received 26 under s. 943.051 against the fingerprints retained in the 27 statewide automated fingerprint identification system under 28 paragraph (b). Any arrest record that is identified with the 29 fingerprints of a person described in this paragraph must be 30 reported as soon as possible to the clerk of court. The clerk 31 of court must forward any arrest record received for a 14 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 professional guardian to the Statewide Public Guardianship 2 Office within 5 days. Each guardian who elects to undergo an 3 inkless electronic background investigation shall participate 4 in this search process by paying an annual fee to the clerk of 5 court and by informing the clerk of court of any change in the 6 status of his or her guardianship appointment. The amount of 7 the annual fee to be imposed upon each clerk of court for 8 performing these searches and the procedures for the retention 9 of guardian fingerprints and the dissemination of search 10 results shall be established by rule of the Department of Law 11 Enforcement. The fee may be borne by the clerk of court or the 12 guardian, but may not exceed $10. 13 (4)(a) A professional guardian, and each employee of a 14 professional guardian who has a fiduciary responsibility to a 15 ward, must complete, at the person's own expense, an 16 investigation of the credit history of the person before and 17 at least once every 2 years after the date of the guardian's 18 appointment. 19 (b) The Statewide Public Guardianship Office shall 20 adopt a rule detailing the acceptable methods for completing a 21 credit investigation under this section. If appropriate, the 22 Statewide Public Guardianship Office may administer credit 23 investigations. If the office chooses to administer the credit 24 investigation, the office may adopt a rule setting a fee, not 25 to exceed $25, to reimburse the costs associated with the 26 administration of a credit investigation. 27 (5) The Statewide Public Guardianship Office may 28 inspect at any time the results of any credit or criminal 29 investigation of a public or professional guardian conducted 30 under this section. The office shall maintain copies of the 31 credit or criminal results in the guardian's registration 15 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 file. If the results of a credit or criminal investigation of 2 a public or professional guardian have not been forwarded to 3 the Statewide Public Guardianship Office by the investigating 4 agency, the clerk of the court shall forward copies of the 5 results of the investigations to the office upon receiving 6 them. 7 (1) Upon receiving the results of a credit or criminal 8 investigation of any public or professional guardian, the 9 clerk of the court shall forward copies of the results to the 10 Statewide Public Guardianship Office in order that the results 11 may be maintained in the guardian's registration file. 12 (6)(2) The requirements of this section do does not 13 apply to a professional guardian, or to the employees of a 14 professional guardian, which is a trust company, a state 15 banking corporation or state savings association authorized 16 and qualified to exercise fiduciary powers in this state, or a 17 national banking association or federal savings and loan 18 association authorized and qualified to exercise fiduciary 19 powers in this state. 20 Section 9. Subsection (4) of section 744.3145, Florida 21 Statutes, is amended to read: 22 744.3145 Guardian education requirements.-- 23 (4) Each person appointed by the court to be a 24 guardian must complete the required number of hours of 25 instruction and education within 4 months 1 year after his or 26 her appointment as guardian. The instruction and education 27 must be completed through a course approved by the chief judge 28 of the circuit court and taught by a court-approved 29 organization. Court-approved organizations may include, but 30 are not limited to, community or junior colleges, guardianship 31 organizations, and the local bar association or The Florida 16 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 Bar. 2 Section 10. Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) and 3 subsection (2) of section 744.3215, Florida Statutes, are 4 amended to read: 5 744.3215 Rights of persons determined incapacitated.-- 6 (1) A person who has been determined to be 7 incapacitated retains the right: 8 (i) To receive necessary services and rehabilitation 9 necessary to maximize the quality of life. 10 (2) Rights that may be removed from a person by an 11 order determining incapacity but not delegated to a guardian 12 include the right: 13 (a) To marry. If the right to enter into a contract 14 has been removed, the right to marry is subject to court 15 approval. 16 (b) To vote. 17 (c) To personally apply for government benefits. 18 (d) To have a driver's license. 19 (e) To travel. 20 (f) To seek or retain employment. 21 Section 11. Subsections (2), (3), and (7) of section 22 744.331, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 23 744.331 Procedures to determine incapacity.-- 24 (2) ATTORNEY FOR THE ALLEGED INCAPACITATED PERSON.-- 25 (a) When a court appoints an attorney for an alleged 26 incapacitated person, the court must appoint an attorney who 27 is included in the attorney registry compiled by the circuit's 28 Article V indigent services committee. Appointments must be 29 made on a rotating basis, taking into consideration conflicts 30 arising under this chapter. 31 (b)(a) The court shall appoint an attorney for each 17 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 person alleged to be incapacitated in all cases involving a 2 petition for adjudication of incapacity. The alleged 3 incapacitated person may substitute her or his own attorney 4 for the attorney appointed by the court, subject to court 5 approval. 6 (c)(b) Any attorney representing an alleged 7 incapacitated person may not serve as guardian of the alleged 8 incapacitated person or as counsel for the guardian of the 9 alleged incapacitated person or the petitioner. 10 (d) Effective January 1, 2006, an attorney seeking to 11 be appointed by a court for incapacity and guardianship 12 proceedings must have completed a minimum of 8 hours of 13 education in guardianship. A court may waive the initial 14 training requirement for an attorney who has served as a 15 court-appointed attorney in incapacity proceedings or as an 16 attorney of record for guardians for not less than 3 years. 17 (3) EXAMINING COMMITTEE.-- 18 (a) Within 5 days after a petition for determination 19 of incapacity has been filed, the court shall appoint an 20 examining committee consisting of three members. One member 21 must be a psychiatrist or other physician. The remaining 22 members must be either a psychologist, gerontologist, another 23 psychiatrist, or other physician, a registered nurse, nurse 24 practitioner, licensed social worker, a person with an 25 advanced degree in gerontology from an accredited institution 26 of higher education, or other person who by knowledge, skill, 27 experience, training, or education may, in the court's 28 discretion, advise the court in the form of an expert opinion, 29 including a professional guardian. One of three members of the 30 committee must have knowledge of the type of incapacity 31 alleged in the petition. Unless good cause is shown, the 18 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 attending or family physician may not be appointed to the 2 committee. If the attending or family physician is available 3 for consultation, the committee must consult with the 4 physician. Members of the examining committee may not be 5 related to or associated with one another, or with the 6 petitioner, with counsel for the petitioner or the proposed 7 guardian, or the person alleged to be totally or partially 8 incapacitated. A member may not be employed by any private or 9 governmental agency that has custody of, or furnishes, 10 services or subsidies, directly or indirectly, to the person 11 or the family of the person alleged to be incapacitated or for 12 whom a guardianship is sought. A petitioner may not serve as 13 a member of the examining committee. Members of the examining 14 committee must be able to communicate, either directly or 15 through an interpreter, in the language that the alleged 16 incapacitated person speaks or to communicate in a medium 17 understandable to the alleged incapacitated person if she or 18 he is able to communicate. The clerk of the court shall send 19 notice of the appointment to each person appointed no later 20 than 3 days after the court's appointment. 21 (b) A person who has been appointed to serve as a 22 member of an examining committee to examine an alleged 23 incapacitated person may not thereafter be appointed as a 24 guardian for the person who was the subject of the 25 examination. 26 (c) Each person appointed to an examining committee 27 must file an affidavit with the court stating that he or she 28 has completed the required courses or will do so no later than 29 4 months after his or her initial appointment. Each year, the 30 chief judge of the circuit must prepare a list of persons 31 qualified to be members of the examining committee. 19 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (d) A member of an examining committee must complete a 2 minimum of 4 hours of initial training. The person must 3 complete 2 hours of continuing education during each 2-year 4 period after the initial training. The initial training and 5 continuing education program must be developed under the 6 supervision of the Statewide Public Guardianship Office, in 7 consultation with the Florida Conference of Circuit Court 8 Judges, the Elder Law and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law 9 sections of The Florida Bar, the Florida State Guardianship 10 Association, and the Florida Guardianship Foundation. The 11 court may waive the initial training requirement for a person 12 who has served for not less than 5 years on examining 13 committees. If a person wishes to obtain his or her continuing 14 education on the Internet or by watching a video course, the 15 person must first obtain the approval of the chief judge 16 before taking an Internet or video course. 17 (e)(b) Each member of the examining committee shall 18 examine the person. Each The examining committee member must 19 shall determine the alleged incapacitated person's ability to 20 exercise those rights specified in s. 744.3215. In addition to 21 the examination, each the examining committee member must 22 shall have access to, and may consider, previous examinations 23 of the person, including, but not limited to, habilitation 24 plans, school records, and psychological and psychosocial 25 reports voluntarily offered for use by the alleged 26 incapacitated person. Each member of the examining committee 27 must shall submit a report within 15 days after appointment. 28 (f)(c) The examination of the alleged incapacitated 29 person must include a comprehensive examination, a report of 30 which shall be filed by the examining committee as part of its 31 written report. The comprehensive examination report should be 20 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 an essential element, but not necessarily the only element, 2 used in making a capacity and guardianship decision. The 3 comprehensive examination must include, if indicated: 4 1. A physical examination; 5 2. A mental health examination; and 6 3. A functional assessment. 7 8 If any of these three aspects of the examination is not 9 indicated or cannot be accomplished for any reason, the 10 written report must explain the reasons for its omission. 11 (g)(d) The committee's written report must include: 12 1. To the extent possible, a diagnosis, prognosis, and 13 recommended course of treatment. 14 2. An evaluation of the alleged incapacitated person's 15 ability to retain her or his rights, including, without 16 limitation, the rights to marry; vote; contract; manage or 17 dispose of property; have a driver's license; determine her or 18 his residence; consent to medical treatment; and make 19 decisions affecting her or his social environment. 20 3. The results of the comprehensive examination and 21 the committee members' assessment of information provided by 22 the attending or family physician, if any. 23 4. A description of any matters with respect to which 24 the person lacks the capacity to exercise rights, the extent 25 of that incapacity, and the factual basis for the 26 determination that the person lacks that capacity. 27 5. The names of all persons present during the time 28 the committee member conducted his or her examination. If a 29 person other than the person who is the subject of the 30 examination supplies answers posed to the alleged 31 incapacitated person, the report must include the response and 21 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 the name of the person supplying the answer. 2 6.5. The signature of each member of the committee and 3 the date and time each member conducted his or her 4 examination. 5 (h)(e) A copy of the report must be served on the 6 petitioner and on the attorney for the alleged incapacitated 7 person within 3 days after the report is filed and at least 5 8 days before the hearing on the petition. 9 (7) FEES.-- 10 (a) The examining committee and any attorney appointed 11 under subsection (2) are entitled to reasonable fees to be 12 determined by the court. 13 (b) The fees awarded under paragraph (a) shall be paid 14 by the guardian from the property of the ward or, if the ward 15 is indigent, by the state. The state shall have a creditor's 16 claim against the guardianship property for any amounts paid 17 under this section. The state may file its claim within 90 18 days after the entry of an order awarding attorney ad litem 19 fees. If the state does not file its claim within the 90-day 20 period, the state is thereafter barred from asserting the 21 claim. Upon petition by the state for payment of the claim, 22 the court shall enter an order authorizing immediate payment 23 out of the property of the ward. The state shall keep a record 24 of the such payments. 25 (c) If the petition is dismissed, costs and attorney's 26 fees of the proceeding may be assessed against the petitioner 27 if the court finds the petition to have been filed in bad 28 faith. 29 Section 12. Present subsection (4) of section 744.341, 30 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5) and 31 amended, and a new subsection (4) is added to that section, to 22 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 read: 2 744.341 Voluntary guardianship.-- 3 (4) A guardian must include in the annual report filed 4 with the court a certificate from a licensed physician who 5 examined the ward not more than 90 days before the annual 6 report is filed with the court. The certificate must certify 7 that the ward is competent to understand the nature of the 8 guardianship and of the ward's authority to delegate powers to 9 the voluntary guardian. 10 (5)(4) A voluntary guardianship may be terminated by 11 the ward by filing a notice with the court that the voluntary 12 guardianship is terminated. The notice must be accompanied by 13 a certificate from a licensed physician who has examined the 14 ward not more than 30 days before the ward filed the notice 15 with the court. The physician must certify that the ward is 16 competent to understand the implications of terminating the 17 guardianship. A copy of the notice and certificate must be 18 served on all interested persons. 19 Section 13. Subsection (9) is added to section 20 774.361, Florida Statutes, to read: 21 744.361 Powers and duties of guardian.-- 22 (9) A professional guardian must ensure that each of 23 the guardian's wards is personally visited by the guardian or 24 one of the guardian's professional staff at least once each 25 calendar quarter. During the personal visit, the guardian or 26 the guardian's professional staff person shall assess: 27 (a) The ward's physical appearance and condition; 28 (b) The appropriateness of the ward's current living 29 situation; and 30 (c) The need for any additional services and the 31 necessity for continuation of existing services, taking into 23 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 consideration all aspects of social, psychological, 2 educational, direct service, health, and personal care needs. 3 4 This subsection does not apply to a professional guardian who 5 has been appointed only as guardian of the property. 6 Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 744.365, Florida 7 Statutes, is amended to read: 8 744.365 Verified inventory.-- 9 (2) CONTENTS.--The verified inventory must include the 10 following: 11 (a) All property of the ward, real and personal, that 12 has come into the guardian's possession or knowledge, 13 including a statement of all encumbrances, liens, and other 14 secured claims on any item, any claims against the property, 15 and any cause of action accruing to the ward and any trusts of 16 which the ward is a beneficiary; 17 (b) The location of the real and personal property in 18 sufficient detail so that it may be clearly identified or 19 located; and 20 (c) A description of all sources of income, including, 21 without limitation, social security benefits and pensions. 22 Section 15. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 23 744.367, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 24 744.367 Duty to file annual guardianship report.-- 25 (1) Unless the court requires filing on a 26 calendar-year basis, each guardian of the person shall file 27 with the court an annual guardianship plan within 90 days 28 after the last day of the anniversary month the letters of 29 guardianship were signed, and the plan must cover the coming 30 fiscal year, ending on the last day in such anniversary month. 31 If the court requires calendar-year filing, the guardianship 24 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 plan must be filed on or before April 1 of each year within 90 2 days after the end of the calendar year. 3 (3) The annual guardianship report of a guardian of 4 the property must consist of an annual accounting, and the 5 annual report of a guardian of the person of an incapacitated 6 person must consist of an annual guardianship plan. The annual 7 report shall be served on the ward, unless the ward is a minor 8 under the age of 14 years or is totally incapacitated, and on 9 the attorney for the ward, if any. The guardian shall provide 10 a copy to any other person as the court may direct. 11 Section 16. Section 744.3675, Florida Statutes, is 12 amended to read: 13 744.3675 Annual guardianship plan.--Each guardian of 14 the person must file with the court an annual guardianship 15 plan which updates information about the condition of the 16 ward. The annual plan must specify the current needs of the 17 ward and how those needs are proposed to be met in the coming 18 year. 19 (1) Each plan for an adult ward must, if applicable, 20 include: 21 (a) Information concerning the residence of the ward, 22 including: 23 1. The ward's address at the time of filing the plan; 24 2. The name and address of each place where the ward 25 was maintained during the preceding year; 26 3. The length of stay of the ward at each place; 27 4. A statement of whether the current residential 28 setting is best suited for the current needs of the ward; and 29 5. Plans for ensuring during the coming year that the 30 ward is in the best residential setting to meet his or her 31 needs. 25 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (b) Information concerning the medical and mental 2 health conditions condition and treatment and rehabilitation 3 needs of the ward, including: 4 1. A resume of any professional medical treatment 5 given to the ward during the preceding year; 6 2. The report of a physician who examined the ward no 7 more than 90 days before the beginning of the applicable 8 reporting period. The Such report must contain an evaluation 9 of the ward's condition and a statement of the current level 10 of capacity of the ward; and 11 3. The plan for providing provision of medical, mental 12 health, and rehabilitative services in the coming year. 13 (c) Information concerning the social condition of the 14 ward, including: 15 1. The social and personal services currently used 16 utilized by the ward; 17 2. The social skills of the ward, including a 18 statement of how well the ward communicates and maintains 19 interpersonal relationships with others; and 20 3. A description of the ward's activities at 21 communication and visitation; and 22 3.4. The social needs of the ward. 23 (2) Each plan filed by the legal guardian of a minor 24 must include: 25 (a) Information concerning the residence of the minor, 26 including: 27 1. The minor's address at the time of filing the plan; 28 and 29 2. The name and address of each place where the minor 30 lived during the preceding year. 31 (b) Information concerning the medical and mental 26 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 health conditions and treatment and rehabilitation needs of 2 the minor, including: 3 1. A resume of any professional medical treatment 4 given to the minor during the preceding year; 5 2. A report from the physician who examined the minor 6 no more than 180 days before the beginning of the applicable 7 reporting period which contains an evaluation of the minor's 8 physical and mental conditions; and 9 3. The plan for providing medical services in the 10 coming year. 11 (c) Information concerning the education of the minor, 12 including: 13 1. A summary of the school progress report; 14 2. The social development of the minor, including a 15 statement of how well the minor communicates and maintains 16 interpersonal relationships with others; and 17 3. The social needs of the minor. 18 (3)(2) Each plan for an adult ward must address the 19 issue of restoration of rights to the ward and include: 20 (a) A summary of activities during the preceding year 21 which were designed to enhance increase the capacity of the 22 ward; 23 (b) A statement of whether the ward can have any 24 rights restored; and 25 (c) A statement of whether restoration of any rights 26 will be sought. 27 (4)(3) The court, in its discretion, may require 28 reexamination of the ward by a physician at any time. 29 Section 17. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 30 744.3678, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 31 744.3678 Annual accounting.-- 27 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (2) The annual accounting must include: 2 (a) A full and correct account of the receipts and 3 disbursements of all of the ward's property over which the 4 guardian has control and a statement of the ward's property on 5 hand at the end of the accounting period. This paragraph does 6 not apply to any property under the control of the guardian, 7 including any trust of which the ward is a beneficiary but 8 which is not under the control or administration of the 9 guardian. 10 (b) A copy of the annual or year-end statement of all 11 of the ward's cash accounts from each of the institutions 12 where the cash is deposited. 13 (3) The guardian must obtain a receipt, or canceled 14 check, or other proof of payment for all expenditures and 15 disbursements made on behalf of the ward. The guardian must 16 preserve all evidence of payment the receipts and canceled 17 checks, along with other substantiating papers, for a period 18 of 3 years after his or her discharge. The receipts, proof of 19 payment checks, and substantiating papers need not be filed 20 with the court but shall be made available for inspection and 21 review at the such time and in such place and before such 22 persons as the court may from time to time order. 23 Section 18. Section 744.3679, Florida Statutes, is 24 amended to read: 25 744.3679 Simplified accounting procedures in certain 26 cases.-- 27 (1) In a guardianship of property, when all assets of 28 the estate are in designated depositories under s. 69.031 and 29 the only transactions that occur in that account are interest 30 accrual, deposits from a pursuant to settlement, or financial 31 institution service charges, the guardian may elect to file an 28 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 accounting consisting of: 2 (a) The original or a certified copy of the year-end 3 statement of the ward's account from the financial 4 institution; and 5 (b) A statement by the guardian under penalty of 6 perjury that the guardian has custody and control of the 7 ward's property as shown in the year-end statement. 8 (2) The clerk has no responsibility to monitor or 9 audit the accounts and may not accept a fee for doing so. 10 (2)(3) The accounting allowed by subsection (1) is in 11 lieu of the accounting and auditing procedures under s. 12 744.3678(2) ss. 744.3678 and 744.368(1)(f). However, any 13 interested party may seek judicial review as provided in s. 14 744.3685. 15 (3)(4) The guardian need not be represented by an 16 attorney in order to file the annual accounting allowed by 17 subsection (1). 18 Section 19. Subsection (3) of section 744.368, Florida 19 Statutes, is amended to read: 20 744.368 Responsibilities of the clerk of the circuit 21 court.-- 22 (3) Within 90 days after the filing of the verified 23 inventory and accountings initial or annual guardianship 24 report by a guardian of the property, the clerk shall audit 25 the verified inventory and or the accountings annual 26 accounting. The clerk shall advise the court of the results of 27 the audit. 28 Section 20. Subsection (19) of section 744.441, 29 Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 30 744.441 Powers of guardian upon court approval.--After 31 obtaining approval of the court pursuant to a petition for 29 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 authorization to act, a plenary guardian of the property, or a 2 limited guardian of the property within the powers granted by 3 the order appointing the guardian or an approved annual or 4 amended guardianship report, may: 5 (19) Create or amend revocable or irrevocable trusts 6 of property of the ward's estate which may extend beyond the 7 disability or life of the ward in connection with estate, 8 gift, income, or other tax planning or in connection with 9 estate planning. The court shall retain oversight of the 10 assets transferred to a trust, unless otherwise ordered by the 11 court. 12 Section 21. Section 744.442, Florida Statutes, is 13 created to read: 14 744.442 Delegation of authority.-- 15 (1) A guardian may designate a surrogate guardian to 16 exercise the powers of the guardian if the guardian is 17 unavailable to act. A person designated as a surrogate 18 guardian under this section must be a professional guardian. 19 (2)(a) A guardian must file a petition with the court 20 requesting permission to designate a surrogate guardian. 21 (b) If the court approves the designation, the order 22 must specify the name and business address of the surrogate 23 guardian, and the duration of appointment, which may not 24 exceed 30 days. The court may extend the appointment for good 25 cause shown. The surrogate guardian may exercise all powers of 26 the guardian unless limited by order of the court. The 27 surrogate guardian must file with the court an oath swearing 28 or affirming that he or she will faithfully perform the duties 29 delegated. The court may require the surrogate guardian to 30 post a bond. 31 (3) This section does not limit the responsibility of 30 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 the guardian to the ward and to the court. The guardian is 2 liable for the acts of the surrogate guardian. The guardian 3 may terminate the authority of the surrogate guardian by 4 filing a written notice of the termination with the court. 5 (4) The surrogate guardian is subject to the 6 jurisdiction of the court as if appointed to serve as 7 guardian. 8 Section 22. Paragraphs (c), (e), and (f) of subsection 9 (2) and subsection (4) of section 744.464, Florida Statutes, 10 are amended to read: 11 744.464 Restoration to capacity.-- 12 (2) SUGGESTION OF CAPACITY.-- 13 (c) The court shall immediately send notice of the 14 filing of the suggestion of capacity to the ward, the 15 guardian, the attorney for the ward, if any, the state 16 attorney, and any other interested persons designated by the 17 court. Formal notice must be served on the guardian. 18 Informal notice may be served on other persons. Notice need 19 not be served on the person who filed the suggestion of 20 capacity. 21 (e) If an objection is timely filed, or if the medical 22 examination suggests that full restoration is not appropriate, 23 the court shall set the matter for hearing. If the ward does 24 not have an attorney, the court shall appoint one to represent 25 the ward. 26 (f) Notice of the hearing and copies of the objections 27 and medical examination reports shall be served upon the ward, 28 the ward's attorney, the guardian, the state attorney, the 29 ward's next of kin, and any other interested persons as 30 directed by the court. 31 (4) TIME LIMITATION FOR FILING SUGGESTION OF 31 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 CAPACITY.--Notwithstanding this section, a suggestion of 2 capacity may not be filed within 90 days after an adjudication 3 of incapacity or denial of restoration, unless good cause is 4 shown. 5 Section 23. Subsection (19) of section 744.474, 6 Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 7 744.474 Reasons for removal of guardian.--A guardian 8 may be removed for any of the following reasons, and the 9 removal shall be in addition to any other penalties prescribed 10 by law: 11 (19) Upon a showing by a person who did not receive 12 notice of the petition for adjudication of incapacity, when 13 such notice is required, or who is related to the ward within 14 the relationships specified for nonresident relatives in ss. 15 744.309(2) and 744.312(2) and who has not previously been 16 rejected by the court as a guardian that: 17 (a) the current guardian is not a family member; and 18 subsection (20) applies. 19 (20)(b) Removal of the current guardian is in the best 20 interest of the ward., The court may remove the current 21 guardian and appoint the petitioner, or such person as the 22 court deems in the best interest of the ward, either as 23 guardian of the person or of the property, or both. 24 Section 24. Section 744.511, Florida Statutes, is 25 amended to read: 26 744.511 Accounting upon removal.--A removed guardian 27 shall file with the court a true, complete, and final report 28 of his or her guardianship within 20 days after removal and 29 shall serve a copy on the successor guardian and the ward, 30 unless the ward is a minor under 14 years of age or has been 31 determined to be totally incapacitated. 32 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 Section 25. Section 744.527, Florida Statutes, is 2 amended to read: 3 744.527 Final reports and application for discharge; 4 hearing.-- 5 (1) When the court terminates the guardianship, 6 according to the reasons set forth in s. 744.521 the guardian 7 shall promptly file his or her final report. If the ward has 8 died, the guardian must file a final report with the court no 9 later than 45 days after he or she has been served with 10 letters of administration or letters of curatorship. If no 11 objections are filed and if it appears that the guardian has 12 made full and complete distribution to the person entitled and 13 has otherwise faithfully discharged his or her duties, the 14 court shall approve the final report. If objections are 15 filed, the court shall conduct a hearing in the same manner as 16 provided for a hearing on objections to annual guardianship 17 reports. 18 (2) The guardian applying for discharge may is 19 authorized to retain from the funds in his or her possession a 20 sufficient amount to pay the final costs of administration, 21 including guardian and attorney's fees regardless of the death 22 of the ward, accruing between the filing of his or her final 23 returns and the order of discharge. 24 Section 26. Subsection (3) of section 744.528, Florida 25 Statutes, is amended to read: 26 744.528 Discharge of guardian named as personal 27 representative.-- 28 (3) Any interested person may file a notice of The 29 court shall set a hearing on any objections filed by the 30 beneficiaries. Notice of the hearing must shall be served upon 31 the guardian, beneficiaries of the ward's estate, and any 33 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 other person to whom the court directs service. If a notice of 2 hearing on the objections is not served within 90 days after 3 filing of the objections, the objections are deemed abandoned. 4 Section 27. Subsection (6) of section 744.708, Florida 5 Statutes, is amended to read: 6 744.708 Reports and standards.-- 7 (6) A The public guardian shall ensure that each of 8 the guardian's wards is personally visited ward is seen by the 9 public guardian or by a professional staff person of the 10 public guardian at least once each calendar quarter four times 11 a year. During this personal visit, the public guardian or the 12 professional staff person shall assess: 13 (a) The ward's physical appearance and condition; 14 (b) The appropriateness of the ward's current living 15 situation; and 16 (c) The need for any additional services and the 17 necessity for continuation of existing services, taking into 18 consideration all aspects of social, psychological, 19 educational, direct service, health, and personal care needs. 20 Section 28. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 21 765.101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 22 765.101 Definitions.--As used in this chapter: 23 (5) "Health care decision" means: 24 (a) Informed consent, refusal of consent, or 25 withdrawal of consent to any and all health care, including 26 life-prolonging procedures and mental health treatment, unless 27 otherwise stated in the advance directives. 28 Section 29. Section 28.345, Florida Statutes, is 29 amended to read: 30 28.345 Exemption from court-related fees and 31 charges.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter 34 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 or law to the contrary, judges, state attorneys, guardians ad 2 litem, public guardians, and public defenders, acting in their 3 official capacity, and state agencies, are exempt from all 4 court-related fees and charges assessed by the clerks of the 5 circuit courts. 6 Section 30. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 7 121.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 8 121.091 Benefits payable under the system.--Benefits 9 may not be paid under this section unless the member has 10 terminated employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or 11 begun participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program 12 as provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has 13 been filed in the manner prescribed by the department. The 14 department may cancel an application for retirement benefits 15 when the member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the 16 information and documents required by this chapter and the 17 department's rules. The department shall adopt rules 18 establishing procedures for application for retirement 19 benefits and for the cancellation of such application when the 20 required information or documents are not received. 21 (8) DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES.-- 22 (c) Notwithstanding the member's designation of 23 benefits to be paid through a trust to a beneficiary that is a 24 natural person as provided in s. 121.021(46), and 25 notwithstanding the provisions of the trust, benefits shall be 26 paid directly to the beneficiary if the such person is no 27 longer a minor or incapacitated as defined in s. 744.102(12) 28 and (13) s. 744.102(11) and (12). 29 Section 31. Subsection (1) of section 709.08, Florida 30 Statutes, is amended to read: 31 709.08 Durable power of attorney.-- 35 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 (1) CREATION OF DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY.--A durable 2 power of attorney is a written power of attorney by which a 3 principal designates another as the principal's attorney in 4 fact. The durable power of attorney must be in writing, must 5 be executed with the same formalities required for the 6 conveyance of real property by Florida law, and must contain 7 the words: "This durable power of attorney is not affected by 8 subsequent incapacity of the principal except as provided in 9 s. 709.08, Florida Statutes"; or similar words that show the 10 principal's intent that the authority conferred is exercisable 11 notwithstanding the principal's subsequent incapacity, except 12 as otherwise provided by this section. The durable power of 13 attorney is exercisable as of the date of execution; however, 14 if the durable power of attorney is conditioned upon the 15 principal's lack of capacity to manage property as defined in 16 s. 744.102(12)(a) s. 744.102(11)(a), the durable power of 17 attorney is exercisable upon the delivery of affidavits in 18 paragraphs (4)(c) and (d) to the third party. 19 Section 32. Subsection (3) of section 744.1085, 20 Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 21 744.1085 Regulation of professional guardians; 22 application; bond required; educational requirements.-- 23 (3) Each professional guardian defined in s. 24 744.102(17) s. 744.102(16) and public guardian must receive a 25 minimum of 40 hours of instruction and training. Each 26 professional guardian must receive a minimum of 16 hours of 27 continuing education every 2 calendar years after the year in 28 which the initial 40-hour educational requirement is met. The 29 instruction and education must be completed through a course 30 approved or offered by the Statewide Public Guardianship 31 Office. The expenses incurred to satisfy the educational 36 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 requirements prescribed in this section may not be paid with 2 the assets of any ward. This subsection does not apply to any 3 attorney who is licensed to practice law in this state. 4 Section 33. For the purpose of incorporating the 5 amendment made by this act to section 744.3215, Florida 6 Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 7 117.107, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 8 117.107 Prohibited acts.-- 9 (4) A notary public may not take the acknowledgment of 10 or administer an oath to a person whom the notary public 11 actually knows to have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated 12 by a court of competent jurisdiction, where the acknowledgment 13 or oath necessitates the exercise of a right that has been 14 removed pursuant to s. 744.3215(2) or (3), and where the 15 person has not been restored to capacity as a matter of 16 record. 17 Section 34. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. 18 19 20 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 21 And the title is amended as follows: 22 Delete everything before the enacting clause 23 24 and insert: 25 A bill to be entitled 26 An act relating to guardianship; amending s. 27 744.102, F.S.; defining the terms "audit" and 28 "surrogate guardian"; amending s. 744.1083, 29 F.S.; authorizing revocation or suspension of a 30 guardian's registration; providing that the 31 Statewide Public Guardianship Office need not 37 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 review credit and criminal investigations from 2 a college or university before registering the 3 institution as a professional guardian; 4 amending s. 744.301, F.S.; providing that in 5 the event of death, the surviving parent is the 6 sole natural guardian of a minor; prohibiting a 7 natural guardian from using the property of the 8 ward for the guardian's benefit without a court 9 order; creating s. 744.3025, F.S.; authorizing 10 a court to appoint a guardian ad litem to 11 represent a minor's interest in certain claims 12 that exceed a specified amount; requiring a 13 court to appoint a guardian ad litem to 14 represent a minor's interest in certain claims 15 that exceed a specified amount; providing that 16 a court need not appoint a guardian ad litem 17 under certain circumstances; requiring a court 18 to award reasonable fees and costs to the 19 guardian ad litem; amending s. 744.3031, F.S.; 20 increasing the time an emergency temporary 21 guardian may serve to 90 days; authorizing an 22 extension; requiring an emergency temporary 23 guardian to file a final report; providing for 24 the contents of the final report; amending s. 25 744.304, F.S.; specifying the persons who may 26 file a petition for a standby guardian; 27 requiring that notice of the appointment 28 hearing be served on the ward's next of kin; 29 clarifying when a standby guardian may assume 30 the duties of guardian; requiring that each 31 standby guardian submit to credit and criminal 38 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 background checks; amending s. 744.3115, F.S.; 2 providing a cross-reference; amending s. 3 744.3135, F.S.; providing procedures for 4 completing a guardians' criminal background 5 investigation; authorizing a guardian to use 6 inkless electronic fingerprinting equipment 7 that is available for background investigations 8 of public employees; providing that a guardian 9 need not be rescreened if he or she uses 10 certain inkless electronic fingerprinting 11 equipment; requiring the Department of Law 12 Enforcement to retain electronically submitted 13 fingerprints and to enter them into the 14 statewide automated fingerprint identification 15 system; requiring the department to search all 16 fingerprint cards received from each guardian 17 and each employee of such guardian against 18 fingerprints retained in the statewide 19 automated fingerprint identification system; 20 requiring a guardian to pay an annual fee to 21 the clerk of court for the background 22 investigation; requiring a guardian and each 23 employee of such guardian to complete an 24 investigation of his or her credit history; 25 requiring the Statewide Public Guardianship 26 Office to adopt a rule for credit 27 investigations of guardians; authorizing the 28 office to inspect the results of any criminal 29 or credit investigation; amending s. 744.3145, 30 F.S.; reducing the time in which a guardian 31 must complete the education courses from 1 year 39 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 to 4 months; amending s. 744.3215, F.S.; 2 providing that an incapacitated person retains 3 the right to receive necessary services and 4 rehabilitation necessary to maximize the 5 quality of the person's life; amending s. 6 744.331, F.S.; requiring that the court appoint 7 an attorney from a specified registry; 8 requiring attorneys to complete certain 9 training programs; providing that a member of 10 the examining committee may not be related to 11 or associated with certain persons; prohibiting 12 a person who served on an examining committee 13 from being appointed as the guardian; requiring 14 each member of an examining committee to file 15 an affidavit stating that he or she has 16 completed the mandatory training; providing for 17 training programs; requiring each member to 18 report the time and date that he or she 19 examined the person alleged to be 20 incapacitated; providing for an award of 21 attorney's fees; amending s. 744.341, F.S.; 22 requiring the voluntary guardian to include 23 certain information in the annual report; 24 requiring that certain specified information be 25 included in the notice to terminate a voluntary 26 guardianship; amending s. 744.361, F.S.; 27 requiring a professional guardian to ensure 28 that each of his or her wards is personally 29 visited at least quarterly; providing for the 30 assessment of certain conditions during the 31 personal visit; amending s. 744.365, F.S.; 40 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 requiring that the verified inventory include 2 information on any trust to which a ward is a 3 beneficiary; amending s. 744.367, F.S.; 4 requiring that the annual report of the 5 guardian be filed on or before April 1 of each 6 year; amending s. 744.3675, F.S.; requiring 7 that the annual guardianship plan include 8 information on the mental condition of the 9 ward; providing for an annual guardianship plan 10 for wards who are minors; amending s. 744.3678, 11 F.S.; providing that property of the ward which 12 is not under the control of the guardian, 13 including certain trusts, is not subject to 14 annual accounting; requiring certain 15 documentation for the annual accounting; 16 amending s. 744.3679, F.S.; removing a 17 provision prohibiting the clerk of court from 18 having responsibility for monitoring or 19 auditing accounts in certain cases; amending s. 20 744.368, F.S.; requiring that the verified 21 inventory and the accountings be audited within 22 a specified time period; amending s. 744.441, 23 F.S.; requiring the court to retain oversight 24 for assets of a ward transferred to a trust; 25 creating s. 744.442, F.S.; providing that a 26 guardian may designate a surrogate guardian to 27 exercise the powers of the guardian if the 28 guardian is unavailable to act; requiring the 29 surrogate guardian to be a professional 30 guardian; providing the procedures to be used 31 in appointing a surrogate guardian; providing 41 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 the duties of a surrogate guardian; requiring 2 the guardian to be liable for the acts of the 3 surrogate guardian; authorizing the guardian to 4 terminate the services of the surrogate 5 guardian by filing a written notice of the 6 termination with the court; amending s. 7 744.464, F.S.; removing the state attorney from 8 the list of persons to be served a notice of a 9 hearing on restoration of capacity; removing a 10 time limitation on the filing of a suggestion 11 of capacity; amending s. 744.474, F.S.; 12 revising the circumstances under which a 13 guardian may be removed; amending s. 744.511, 14 F.S.; providing that a ward who is a minor need 15 not be served with the final report of a 16 removed guardian; amending s. 744.527, F.S.; 17 providing that final reports for a deceased 18 ward be filed at a specified time; amending s. 19 744.528, F.S.; providing for a notice of the 20 hearing for objections to a report filed by a 21 guardian; amending s. 744.708, F.S.; requiring 22 a public guardian to ensure that each of his or 23 her wards is personally visited at least 24 quarterly; providing for the assessment of 25 certain conditions during the personal visit; 26 amending s. 765.101, F.S.; redefining the term 27 "health care decision" to include informed 28 consent for mental health treatment services; 29 amending s. 28.345, F.S.; exempting a public 30 guardian from paying court-related fees and 31 charges; amending ss. 121.091, 709.08, and 42 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y
Florida Senate - 2005 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1958 Barcode 342746 1 744.1085, F.S.; conforming cross-references; 2 reenacting s. 117.107(4), F.S., relating to 3 prohibited acts of a notary public, to 4 incorporate the amendment made to s. 744.3215, 5 F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an 6 effective date. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 43 8:54 AM 04/11/05 s1958d-ju27-c8y