The Florida Senate

744.704  Powers and duties.--

(1)  A public guardian may serve as a guardian of a person adjudicated incapacitated under this chapter:

(a)  If there is no family member or friend, other person, bank, or corporation willing and qualified to serve as guardian; and

(b)  If the assets of the ward do not exceed the asset level for Medicaid eligibility, exclusive of homestead and exempt property as defined in s. 4, Art. X of the State Constitution, and the ward's income, from all sources, is less than $4,000 per year. Income from public welfare programs, supplemental security income, optional state supplement, a disability pension, or a social security pension shall be excluded in such computation. However, a ward whose total income, counting excludable income, exceeds $30,000 a year may not be served.

(2)  The public guardian shall be vested with all the powers and duties of a guardian under this chapter, except as otherwise provided by law.

(3)  If the public guardian finds that the assets or the income of the ward exceeds the amounts set forth in paragraph (1)(b), the public guardian shall submit a resignation and petition the court for appointment of a successor guardian. The public guardian shall not be dismissed until such time that a private guardian is appointed. If a qualified successor guardian is not available, the public guardian may remain as guardian, provided the guardian makes reasonable efforts to find a successor and reports to the court every 6 months on efforts to obtain a successor.

(4)  The public guardian shall be authorized to employ sufficient staff to carry out the duties of his or her office.

(5)  The public guardian may delegate to assistants and other members of his or her staff the powers and duties of the office of public guardian, except as otherwise limited by law. The public guardian shall retain ultimate responsibility for the discharge of his or her duties and responsibilities.

(6)  The public guardian, when appointed guardian of an incapacitated person, shall seek a family member or friend, other person, bank, or corporation who is qualified and willing to serve as guardian. Upon determining that there is someone qualified and willing to serve as guardian, either the public guardian or the qualified person shall petition the court for appointment of a successor guardian.

(7)  A public guardian shall not commit a ward to a mental health treatment facility, as defined in s. 394.455(30), without an involuntary placement proceeding as provided by law.

(8)  When a person is appointed successor public guardian, he or she immediately succeeds to all rights, duties, responsibilities, and powers of the preceding public guardian.

(9)  When the position of public guardian is vacant, subordinate personnel employed under subsection (4) shall continue to act as if the position of public guardian were filled.

History.--s. 1, ch. 86-120; s. 99, ch. 89-96; s. 45, ch. 96-169; s. 1790, ch. 97-102; s. 86, ch. 99-3.