Florida 2022 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0845 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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3	3	HB 845 2022
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb0845-00
9	9	Page 1 of 21
10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to jurisdiction for guardianship 2
16	16	proceedings; creating part IX of ch. 744, Florida 3
17	17	Statutes, entitled the "Florida Guardianship 4
18	18	Jurisdiction Act"; creating s. 744.74, F.S.; providing 5
19	19	a short title; creating s. 744.75, F.S.; providing 6
20	20	legislative purpose and construction; creating s. 7
21	21	744.76, F.S.; providing definitions; creating s. 8
22	22	744.77, F.S.; providing construction relating to 9
23	23	international application; creating s. 744.78, F.S.; 10
24	24	authorizing courts of this state to communicate with 11
25	25	courts of another state relating to certain 12
26	26	proceedings; requiring courts of this state to make a 13
27	27	record of such communication; specifying 14
28	28	communications that interested persons must be able to 15
29	29	participate in; creating s. 744.79, F.S.; specifying 16
30	30	actions that a court of this state may request from, 17
31	31	and perform for, a court of another state in certain 18
32	32	guardianship proceedings; creating s. 744.80, F.S.; 19
33	33	authorizing courts of this state to permit witness 20
34	34	testimony by certain means; providing that certain 21
35	35	evidence may be excluded after a judicial 22
36	36	determination of admissibility; creating s. 744.81, 23
37	37	F.S.; specifying factors a court must consider in 24
38	38	determining whether a respondent has a significant 25
39	39
40	40	HB 845 2022
41	41
42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb0845-00
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	connection with a particular state; creating s. 26
52	52	744.82, F.S.; providing co nstruction relating to the 27
53	53	basis for jurisdiction; creating s. 744.83, F.S.; 28
54	54	specifying circumstances when a court of this state 29
55	55	has jurisdiction in certain guardianship proceedings; 30
56	56	creating s. 744.84, F.S.; specifying the special 31
57	57	jurisdiction of courts o f this state; providing 32
58	58	procedures relating to the appointment of an emergency 33
59	59	temporary guardian under certain circumstances; 34
60	60	creating s. 744.85, F.S.; providing that a court that 35
61	61	has appointed a guardian has exclusive and continuing 36
62	62	jurisdiction until ce rtain conditions are met; 37
63	63	creating s. 744.86, F.S.; authorizing a court of this 38
64	64	state to decline to exercise its jurisdiction under 39
65	65	certain circumstances; specifying requirements for 40
66	66	such court; specifying factors a court must consider 41
67	67	in determining wheth er it is an appropriate forum; 42
68	68	creating s. 744.87, F.S.; authorizing a court to 43
69	69	decline to exercise jurisdiction or to exercise 44
70	70	jurisdiction for a limited purpose under certain 45
71	71	circumstances; authorizing a court to assess certain 46
72	72	expenses against certain p ersons; prohibiting the 47
73	73	court from assessing certain fees, costs, or expenses 48
74	74	against this state; creating s. 744.88, F.S.; 49
75	75	providing notice requirements for certain petitions to 50
76	76
77	77	HB 845 2022
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81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	appoint a guardian; creating s. 744.89, F.S.; 51
89	89	providing procedures when certa in proceedings are 52
90	90	pending in more than one state; creating s. 744.90, 53
91	91	F.S.; authorizing a guardian appointed in this state 54
92	92	to petition to transfer the guardianship to another 55
93	93	state; providing notice requirements; providing 56
94	94	requirements and procedures for the court; specifying 57
95	95	conditions before a court issues a final order 58
96	96	confirming the transfer and terminating the 59
97	97	guardianship; providing a requirement for the guardian 60
98	98	in filing a petition for discharge; creating s. 61
99	99	744.91, F.S.; specifying requirements an d procedures 62
100	100	for the transfer of a guardianship from another state; 63
101	101	providing construction; creating s. 744.92, F.S.; 64
102	102	providing a procedure for registering guardianship 65
103	103	orders in this state under certain circumstances; 66
104	104	creating s. 744.93, F.S.; providing c onstruction 67
105	105	relating to the effect of registering a guardianship 68
106	106	order; creating s. 744.94, F.S.; providing 69
107	107	construction relating to uniformity of law; creating 70
108	108	s. 744.95, F.S.; providing construction relating to 71
109	109	the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and 72
110	110	National Commerce Act; creating s. 744.96, F.S.; 73
111	111	providing applicability; providing an effective date. 74
112	112	75
113	113
114	114	HB 845 2022
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116	116
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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123	123
124	124
125	125	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 76
126	126	77
127	127	Section 1. Part IX of chapter 744, Florida Statutes, 78
128	128	consisting of ss. 744.74 -744.96, Florida Statutes, is created 79
129	129	and entitled the "Florida Guardianship Jurisdiction Act." 80
130	130	Section 2. Section 744.74, Florida Statutes, is created to 81
131	131	read: 82
132	132	744.74 Short title. —This act may be cited as the "Florida 83
133	133	Guardianship Jurisdiction Act." 84
134	134	Section 3. Section 744.75, Florida Statutes, is created to 85
135	135	read: 86
136	136	744.75 Purpose; construction. —The purpose of this part is 87
137	137	to provide clear direction to the courts, attorneys, guardians, 88
138	138	and individuals about the proper jurisdiction for guardianship 89
139	139	proceedings. This part is intended to supplement, but not 90
140	140	replace, the current system for determining incapacity, 91
141	141	appointing guardians, managing estates, and other procedures as 92
142	142	governed by this chapter. The general purposes of this part are 93
143	143	to: 94
144	144	(1) Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with 95
145	145	courts of other states in matters of guardianship. 96
146	146	(2) Establish procedures for transferring guardianship 97
147	147	from one state to another state when the incapacitated adult 98
148	148	moves. 99
149	149	(3) Avoid relitigating the guar dianship decisions of other 100
150	150
151	151	HB 845 2022
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153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb0845-00
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	states in this state. 101
163	163	(4) Discourage the use of the interstate system for 102
164	164	continuing controversies over guardianship. 103
165	165	(5) Provide a uniform national system for registration and 104
166	166	enforcement of out-of-state guardianship orders . 105
167	167	Section 4. Section 744.76, Florida Statutes, is created to 106
168	168	read: 107
169	169	744.76 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 108
170	170	(1) "Adult" means an individual who has attained 18 years 109
171	171	of age. 110
172	172	(2) "Emergency" means imminent danger that the physical or 111
173	173	mental health or safety of the respondent will be seriously 112
174	174	impaired or that the respondent's property is in danger of being 113
175	175	wasted, misappropriated, or lost unless immediate action is 114
176	176	taken. 115
177	177	(3) "Guardian" has the same meaning as in s. 744.102(9) 116
178	178	and includes a limited or plenary guardian or an emergency 117
179	179	temporary guardian as set forth in this chapter. 118
180	180	(4) "Guardianship order" means an order appointing a 119
181	181	guardian. 120
182	182	(5) "Guardianship proceeding" means a judicial proceeding 121
183	183	in which an order for the app ointment of a guardian is sought or 122
184	184	has been issued. 123
185	185	(6) "Home state" means the state in which the respondent 124
186	186	was physically present, including any period of temporary 125
187	187
188	188	HB 845 2022
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190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb0845-00
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	absence, for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before 126
200	200	the filing of a petition for incapacity, guardianship, or 127
201	201	similar petition. If no such state exists, then the home state 128
202	202	is the state in which the respondent was physically present, 129
203	203	including any period of temporary absence, for at least 6 130
204	204	consecutive months ending within the 6 m onths immediately before 131
205	205	the filing of the petition. 132
206	206	(7) "Incapacitated person" means a person who has been 133
207	207	adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the 134
208	208	capacity to manage at least some of his or her property or to 135
209	209	meet at least some of h is or her essential health and safety 136
210	210	requirements, and for whom a guardian has been appointed. 137
211	211	(8) "Interested person" has the same meaning as in s. 138
212	212	731.201. 139
213	213	(9) "Party" means the respondent, petitioner, guardian, 140
214	214	conservator, or any other person allo wed by the court to 141
215	215	participate in a guardianship, incapacity, or similar 142
216	216	proceeding. 143
217	217	(10) "Person," except when used in the terms 144
218	218	"incapacitated person" or "interested person," includes 145
219	219	individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, 146
220	220	partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, 147
221	221	fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations 148
222	222	thereof, as defined in s. 1.01(3). 149
223	223	(11) "Respondent" means an adult for whom the appointment 150
224	224
225	225	HB 845 2022
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227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb0845-00
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	of a guardian is sought. 151
237	237	(12) "Significant-connection state" means a state, other 152
238	238	than the home state, with which a respondent has a significant 153
239	239	connection other than mere physical presence, and in which 154
240	240	substantial evidence concerning the respondent is available. 155
241	241	(13) "State" means a state of the United States, the 156
242	242	District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin 157
243	243	Islands, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or any territory 158
244	244	or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United 159
245	245	States. 160
246	246	(14) "Ward" means a perso n for whom a guardian or 161
247	247	conservator has been appointed. 162
248	248	Section 5. Section 744.77, Florida Statutes, is created to 163
249	249	read: 164
250	250	744.77 International application of part. —A court of this 165
251	251	state shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the 166
252	252	United States for purposes of applying this part. 167
253	253	Section 6. Section 744.78, Florida Statutes, is created to 168
254	254	read: 169
255	255	744.78 Communication between courts. — 170
256	256	(1) A court of this state may communicate with a court of 171
257	257	another state concerning a proceeding aris ing under this part; 172
258	258	however, the court of this state shall make a record of the 173
259	259	communication. 174
260	260	(2) Communications between courts may not occur without 175
261	261
262	262	HB 845 2022
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264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb0845-00
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	the ability of interested persons to also participate in the 176
274	274	communication, either in person or by oth er means of 177
275	275	participation. Interested persons need not be a party to the 178
276	276	internal communications between the clerks of the various 179
277	277	courts. 180
278	278	Section 7. Section 744.79, Florida Statutes, is created to 181
279	279	read: 182
280	280	744.79 Cooperation between courts. — 183
281	281	(1) In a guardianship proceeding in this state, a court of 184
282	282	this state may request the appropriate court of another state to 185
283	283	do any of the following: 186
284	284	(a) Hold a hearing. 187
285	285	(b) Order a person in that state to produce evidence or 188
286	286	given testimony pursuant to procedu res of that state. 189
287	287	(c) Order that an evaluation or assessment be made of the 190
288	288	respondent. 191
289	289	(d) Order any appropriate investigation of a person 192
290	290	involved in a proceeding. 193
291	291	(e) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of 194
292	292	the transcript or other records of a hearing under paragraph (a) 195
293	293	or any other proceeding, any evidence otherwise produced under 196
294	294	paragraph (b), and any evaluation or assessment prepared in 197
295	295	compliance with an order under paragraph (c) or paragraph (d). 198
296	296	(f) Issue any order necessa ry to assure the appearance in 199
297	297	the proceeding of a person whose presence is necessary for the 200
298	298
299	299	HB 845 2022
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	court to make a determination, including the respondent or the 201
311	311	incapacitated person. 202
312	312	(g) Issue an order authorizing the release of medical, 203
313	313	financial, criminal, or other relevant information in that 204
314	314	state, including protected health information as defined in 45 205
315	315	C.F.R. s. 160.103. 206
316	316	(2) If a court of another state in which a guardianship 207
317	317	proceeding is pending requests the kind of assistance described 208
318	318	in subsection (1), a court of this state has jurisdiction for 209
319	319	the limited purpose of granting the request or making reasonable 210
320	320	efforts to comply with the request. 211
321	321	Section 8. Section 744.80, Florida Statutes, is created to 212
322	322	read: 213
323	323	744.80 Taking testimony in another state.— 214
324	324	(1) In a guardianship proceeding, upon agreement of all 215
325	325	the parties, a court of this state may permit a witness located 216
326	326	in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, 217
327	327	audiovisual, or other electronic means. 218
328	328	(2) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to 219
329	329	a court of this state by technological means that does not 220
330	330	produce an original writing may be excluded from evidence after 221
331	331	a judicial determination of admissibility. 222
332	332	Section 9. Section 744.81, Florida Statutes, is crea ted to 223
333	333	read: 224
334	334	744.81 Significant-connection factors.—In determining 225
335	335
336	336	HB 845 2022
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338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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345	345
346	346
347	347	whether a respondent has a significant connection with a 226
348	348	particular state, the court shall consider the following: 227
349	349	(1) The location of the respondent's family and other 228
350	350	persons required to be notified of the guardianship proceeding. 229
351	351	(2) The length of time that the respondent was physically 230
352	352	present in the state at any point in time and the duration of 231
353	353	any absence. 232
354	354	(3) The location of the respondent's property. 233
355	355	(4) The extent to which the respondent has ties to the 234
356	356	state, such as voting registration, state or local tax return 235
357	357	filings, vehicle registration, driver license, social 236
358	358	relationships, and receipt of services. 237
359	359	Section 10. Section 744.82, Florida Statutes, is created 238
360	360	to read: 239
361	361	744.82 Exclusive basis for jurisdiction. —This part 240
362	362	provides the exclusive jurisdictional basis for a court of this 241
363	363	state to appoint a guardian for an adult. 242
364	364	Section 11. Section 744.83, Florida Statutes, is created 243
365	365	to read: 244
366	366	744.83 Jurisdiction.—A court of this state has 245
367	367	jurisdiction to determine incapacity, appoint a guardian, or 246
368	368	undertake similar proceedings if any of the following apply: 247
369	369	(1) This state is the respondent's home state. 248
370	370	(2) On the date a petition is filed, this state is a 249
371	371	significant-connection state and: 250
372	372
373	373	HB 845 2022
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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382	382
383	383
384	384	(a) The respondent does not have a home state, or a court 251
385	385	of the respondent's home state has declined to exercise 252
386	386	jurisdiction because this state is a more appropriate forum; or 253
387	387	(b) The respondent has a home state but a petition for an 254
388	388	appointment or order is not pending in a court of that state or 255
389	389	another significant-connection state, and before the court of 256
390	390	this state makes the appointment or issues an order: 257
391	391	1. A petition to determine incapacity, appoint a guardian, 258
392	392	or other similar proceeding is not filed in the respondent's 259
393	393	home state; 260
394	394	2. An objection to the jurisdiction of the court of this 261
395	395	state is not filed by a person required to be notified of the 262
396	396	proceeding; and 263
397	397	3. The court of this state concludes that i t is the 264
398	398	appropriate forum after considering the factors set forth in s. 265
399	399	744.86. 266
400	400	(3) This state does not have jurisdiction under subsection 267
401	401	(1) or subsection (2), the respondent's home state and all 268
402	402	significant-connection states have declined to exercise 269
403	403	jurisdiction because this state is the more appropriate forum, 270
404	404	and jurisdiction in this state is consistent with the State 271
405	405	Constitution and the United States Constitution. 272
406	406	(4) The requirements for special jurisdiction under s. 273
407	407	744.84 are met. 274
408	408	Section 12. Section 744.84, Florida Statutes, is created 275
409	409
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
418	418
419	419
420	420
421	421	to read: 276
422	422	744.84 Special jurisdiction. — 277
423	423	(1) A court of this state has jurisdiction to do the 278
424	424	following: 279
425	425	(a) In accordance with this chapter, appoint a temporary 280
426	426	guardian in an emergency for a respondent who is physically 281
427	427	present in this state. 282
428	428	(b) Appoint a guardian for an incapacitated person for 283
429	429	whom a provisional order to transfer the proceeding from another 284
430	430	state has been issued. 285
431	431	(2) If a petition for the appointment of an emergency 286
432	432	temporary guardian is brought in this state and this state was 287
433	433	not the respondent's home state on the date that the petition 288
434	434	was filed, the court must dismiss the proceeding at the request 289
435	435	of the court of the home state, if any such request is made, 290
436	436	only after a hearing and judicial determination of the 291
437	437	appropriate forum of the respondent based on the factors in s. 292
438	438	744.86, whether by the home state or this state. If, after the 293
439	439	hearing, the home state and this state differ in their 294
440	440	determination of which is the appropriate forum, the home state 295
441	441	shall prevail, whether dismissal is requested before or after 296
442	442	the emergency appointment. 297
443	443	Section 13. Section 744.85, Florida Statutes, is created 298
444	444	to read: 299
445	445	744.85 Exclusive and continuing jurisdiction. —Except as 300
446	446
447	447	HB 845 2022
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455	455
456	456
457	457
458	458	otherwise provided in s. 744.84, a court that has appointed a 301
459	459	guardian consistent with this part has exclusive and continuing 302
460	460	jurisdiction over the proceeding only until a determination is 303
461	461	made as to the proper jurisdiction of the action, the 304
462	462	jurisdiction is terminated by the court, or the appointment or 305
463	463	order expires by its own terms. 306
464	464	Section 14. Section 744.86, Florida Statutes, is created 307
465	465	to read: 308
466	466	744.86 Appropriate forum. — 309
467	467	(1) A court of this state having jurisdiction to appoint a 310
468	468	guardian may decline to exercise its jurisdiction if it 311
469	469	determines at any time that a court of another state is a more 312
470	470	appropriate forum. 313
471	471	(2) If a court of this state declines to exercise its 314
472	472	jurisdiction under subsection (1), it must dismiss or stay the 315
473	473	proceeding. The court may impose any condition that the court 316
474	474	considers just and proper, including requiring that a petition 317
475	475	for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of similar 318
476	476	petition be filed promptly in another state. 319
477	477	(3) In determining whether it is an appropri ate forum, the 320
478	478	court shall consider all relevant factors, including: 321
479	479	(a) Any expressed preference of the respondent. 322
480	480	(b) Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the 323
481	481	respondent has occurred or is likely to occur, and which state 324
482	482	could best protect th e respondent from the abuse, neglect, or 325
483	483
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
492	492
493	493
494	494
495	495	exploitation. 326
496	496	(c) The length of time the respondent was physically 327
497	497	present in or was a legal resident of this or another state. 328
498	498	(d) The distance of the respondent from the court in each 329
499	499	state. 330
500	500	(e) The financial circumstances of the respondent's 331
501	501	estate. 332
502	502	(f) The nature and location of the evidence. 333
503	503	(g) The ability of the court in each state to decide the 334
504	504	issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present 335
505	505	evidence. 336
506	506	(h) The familiarity of the court of each state with the 337
507	507	facts and issues in the proceeding. 338
508	508	(i) If an appointment were made, the court's ability to 339
509	509	monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator. 340
510	510	Section 15. Section 744.87, Florida Statutes, is created 341
511	511	to read: 342
512	512	744.87 Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct. — 343
513	513	(1) If at any time a court of this state determines that 344
514	514	it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian because a person 345
515	515	seeking to invoke its jurisdiction engaged in unjustifiable 346
516	516	conduct, the court may: 347
517	517	(a) Decline to exercise jurisdiction; or 348
518	518	(b) Exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of 349
519	519	fashioning an appropriate remedy to ensure the health, safety, 350
520	520
521	521	HB 845 2022
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528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	and welfare of the respondent or protecting the respondent's 351
533	533	property, or both, including staying th e proceeding until a 352
534	534	petition for the appointment of a guardian is filed in a court 353
535	535	of another state having jurisdiction. 354
536	536	(2) If a court of this state determines that it acquired 355
537	537	jurisdiction to appoint a guardian because a person seeking to 356
538	538	invoke its jurisdiction engaged in bad faith or unlawful 357
539	539	conduct, it may assess that person necessary and reasonable 358
540	540	expenses, including attorney fees, investigative fees, court 359
541	541	costs, communication expenses, witness fees and expenses, and 360
542	542	travel expenses. The court m ay not assess fees, costs, or 361
543	543	expenses of any kind against this state or a governmental 362
544	544	subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of this state unless 363
545	545	authorized by law other than this part. 364
546	546	Section 16. Section 744.88, Florida Statutes, is created 365
547	547	to read: 366
548	548	744.88 Notice of proceeding. —If a petition for the 367
549	549	appointment of a guardian is brought in this state and this 368
550	550	state was not the respondent's home state on the date that the 369
551	551	petition was filed, the petitioner must provide notice of the 370
552	552	petition to those persons who would be entitled to notice of the 371
553	553	petition in this state and in the respondent's home state. 372
554	554	Section 17. Section 744.89, Florida Statutes, is created 373
555	555	to read: 374
556	556	744.89 Proceedings in more than one state. —Except for a 375
557	557
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565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency, if a 376
570	570	petition for the appointment of a guardian is filed in this 377
571	571	state and in another state and neither petition has been 378
572	572	dismissed or withdrawn, the following rules apply: 379
573	573	(1) If the court of this state has ju risdiction under this 380
574	574	chapter, it may proceed with the case unless a court of another 381
575	575	state acquires jurisdiction before the appointment of the 382
576	576	guardian or issuance of the order. 383
577	577	(2) If the court of this state does not have jurisdiction 384
578	578	under this chapter after a hearing and judicial determination of 385
579	579	same, whether at the time the petition is filed or at any time 386
580	580	before the appointment of a guardian or issuance of an order, 387
581	581	the court must stay the proceeding and communicate with the 388
582	582	court of the other stat e. If the court of the other state has 389
583	583	jurisdiction after a hearing and judicial determination of same, 390
584	584	the court of this state must dismiss the petition unless the 391
585	585	court of the other state determines that the court of this state 392
586	586	is a more appropriate foru m. 393
587	587	Section 18. Section 744.90, Florida Statutes, is created 394
588	588	to read: 395
589	589	744.90 Transfer of guardianship to another state. — 396
590	590	(1) A guardian appointed in this state may petition the 397
591	591	court to transfer the guardianship to another state. 398
592	592	(2) Notice of a petition under subsection (1) must be 399
593	593	given to all parties who would be entitled to notice of a 400
594	594
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602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	petition in this state for the appointment of a guardian or a 401
607	607	petition for a change of residence of the ward. 402
608	608	(3) On the court's own motion or upon request of the 403
609	609	guardian, the incapacitated person, or both, the court shall 404
610	610	hold a hearing on a petition filed under subsection (1). 405
611	611	(4) The court may issue an order provisionally granting a 406
612	612	petition to transfer a guardianship and shall direct the 407
613	613	guardian to petition for guardianship in the other state if the 408
614	614	court is satisfied that the guardianship will likely be accepted 409
615	615	by the court of the other state and the court finds that: 410
616	616	(a) The incapacitated person is physically present in or 411
617	617	is reasonably expected to m ove permanently to the other state; 412
618	618	(b) An objection to the transfer has not been made or, if 413
619	619	an objection has been made, the objector has not established 414
620	620	that the transfer would be contrary to the best interests of the 415
621	621	incapacitated person; and 416
622	622	(c) Plans for care and services for the incapacitated 417
623	623	person in the other state are reasonable and sufficient. 418
624	624	(5) The court shall issue a final order confirming the 419
625	625	transfer and terminating the guardianship upon its receipt of: 420
626	626	(a) A provisional order accep ting the proceeding from the 421
627	627	court to which the proceeding is to be transferred and issued 422
628	628	under provisions similar to s. 744.89; and 423
629	629	(b) The documents required, including any required 424
630	630	accountings, to terminate a guardianship in this state. 425
631	631
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639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	(6) The guardian of the ward in this state shall file a 426
644	644	petition for discharge in accordance with part VII of this 427
645	645	chapter within 60 days after receipt of an order confirming the 428
646	646	transfer of the guardianship to another jurisdiction. 429
647	647	Section 19. Section 744.91, Florida Statutes, is created 430
648	648	to read: 431
649	649	744.91 Accepting guardianship transferred from another 432
650	650	state.— 433
651	651	(1) Within 60 days after the residence of a ward of a 434
652	652	foreign guardian is moved to this state, the foreign guardian 435
653	653	appointed in another state shall f ile a petition to determine 436
654	654	incapacity and a petition to appoint a guardian with the clerk 437
655	655	of court in the county in which the ward resides. The petitions 438
656	656	must include a certified copy of the other state's provisional 439
657	657	order of transfer, in addition to a ce rtified copy of the 440
658	658	guardian's letters of guardianship or the equivalent. 441
659	659	(2) Notice of the petitions under subsection (1) must be 442
660	660	given to those persons who would be entitled to notice in this 443
661	661	state in the same manner as notice is required to be given i n 444
662	662	this state and the respondent's home state. 445
663	663	(3) The court shall hold a hearing on the petitions filed 446
664	664	pursuant to the procedures set forth in this chapter. 447
665	665	(4) The court shall issue orders provisionally granting 448
666	666	the petitions unless: 449
667	667	(a) An objection is made and the objector establishes that 450
668	668
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676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	transfer of the proceeding would be contrary to the best 451
681	681	interests of the ward; or 452
682	682	(b) The guardian is ineligible for appointment in this 453
683	683	state. 454
684	684	(5) Until such time as a guardian is appointed in this 455
685	685	state for the ward or the ward is determined to not require a 456
686	686	guardian in this state, the foreign guardian's authority is 457
687	687	recognized and given full faith and credit in the courts of this 458
688	688	state, provided that the guardian is qualified to serve as the 459
689	689	guardian of the ward in this state. A foreign guardian who fails 460
690	690	to comply with the requirements of this section has no authority 461
691	691	to act on behalf of the ward in this state. 462
692	692	(6) After appointment of a guardian in this state, the 463
693	693	court may issue such orders as necessa ry to complete the 464
694	694	transfer of the foreign guardianship to this state or the 465
695	695	termination of the foreign guardianship, as may be required. 466
696	696	(7) The authority of the guardian of a nonresident ward 467
697	697	shall be recognized and given full faith and credit in the 468
698	698	courts of this state. A guardian appointed in another state or 469
699	699	country may maintain or defend any action in this state as a 470
700	700	representative of the ward unless a guardian has been appointed 471
701	701	in this state. 472
702	702	Section 20. Section 744.92, Florida Statutes, is created 473
703	703	to read: 474
704	704	744.92 Registration of guardianship orders. —If a guardian 475
705	705
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713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	has been appointed in another state and a petition for the 476
718	718	appointment of a guardianship is not pending in this state, the 477
719	719	guardian appointed in the other state, after giving noti ce of 478
720	720	the appointing to the appointing court of the intent to 479
721	721	register, may register the guardianship order in this state by 480
722	722	filing it as a foreign judgment in a court of this state 481
723	723	pursuant to ss. 744.307 and 744.308. 482
724	724	Section 21. Section 744.93, Flori da Statutes, is created 483
725	725	to read: 484
726	726	744.93 Effect of registration. —Upon registration of a 485
727	727	guardianship order from another state, the guardian or 486
728	728	conservator may exercise in this state all powers authorized in 487
729	729	the order of appointment except as prohibited un der the laws of 488
730	730	this state and, if the guardian is not a resident of this state, 489
731	731	subject to any conditions imposed upon nonresident parties. 490
732	732	Section 22. Section 744.94, Florida Statutes, is created 491
733	733	to read: 492
734	734	744.94 Uniformity of application and constr uction.—In 493
735	735	applying and construing this part, consideration must be given 494
736	736	to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its 495
737	737	subject matter among states that enact it. 496
738	738	Section 23. Section 744.95, Florida Statutes, is created 497
739	739	to read: 498
740	740	744.95 Relation to federal Electronic Signatures in Global 499
741	741	and National Commerce Act. —This part modifies, limits, and 500
742	742
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750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and 501
755	755	National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. s. 7001, et seq., but does not 502
756	756	modify, limit, or supersede s. 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s. 503
757	757	7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices 504
758	758	described in s. 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s. 7003(b). 505
759	759	Section 24. Section 744.96, Florida Statutes, is created 506
760	760	to read: 507
761	761	744.96 Application.—This part applies to guardianship and 508
762	762	similar proceedings filed on or after July 1, 2022. 509
763	763	Section 25. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 510