HB 363

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to parental authority; amending s.
3	744.301, F.S.; authorizing natural guardians to waive and
4	release, in advance, any claim or cause of action that
5	would accrue to any of their minor children to the same
6	extent that any adult may do so on his or her own behalf;
7	providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 744.301, Florida
12	Statutes, is amended to read:
13	744.301  Natural guardians.--
14	(2)(a)  Natural guardians are authorized, on behalf of any
15	of their minor children, to:
16	1.(a)  Settle and consummate a settlement of any claim or
17	cause of action accruing to any of their minor children for
18	damages to the person or property of any of said minor children;
19	2.(b)  Collect, receive, manage, and dispose of the
20	proceeds of any such settlement;
21	3.(c)  Collect, receive, manage, and dispose of any real or
22	personal property distributed from an estate or trust;
23	4.(d)  Collect, receive, manage, and dispose of and make
24	elections regarding the proceeds from a life insurance policy or
25	annuity contract payable to, or otherwise accruing to the
26	benefit of, the child; and
27	5.(e)  Collect, receive, manage, dispose of, and make
28	elections regarding the proceeds of any benefit plan as defined
29	by s. 710.102, of which the minor is a beneficiary, participant,
30	or owner,
31
32	without appointment, authority, or bond, when the amounts
33	received, in the aggregate, do not exceed $15,000.
34	(b)  In addition to the authority granted in paragraph (a),
35	natural guardians are authorized, on behalf of any of their
36	minor children, to waive and release, in advance, any claim or
37	cause of action that would accrue to any of their minor children
38	to the same extent that any adult may do so on his or her own
39	behalf.
40	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.