Florida 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0297 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
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3	3	HB 297 2023
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb0297-00
9	9	Page 1 of 17
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
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12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to guardianship; providing a short 2
16	16	title; amending s. 744.102, F.S.; defining the term 3
17	17	"family"; amending s. 744.2006, F.S.; requiring public 4
18	18	guardians to be appointed on a rotating basis; 5
19	19	amending s. 744.3021, F.S.; requiring the court to 6
20	20	establish visitation rights of a minor's family; 7
21	21	creating a rebuttable presumption; requiring clear and 8
22	22	convincing evidence to deny visitation or other 9
23	23	contact; authorizing the court to establish reasonable 10
24	24	limitations on such visitation; requiring that an y 11
25	25	limitations on visitation or other contact be 12
26	26	specified in the order of appointment; amending s. 13
27	27	744.3203, F.S.; authorizing the suspension of a power 14
28	28	of attorney only under certain circumstances; 15
29	29	requiring a jury to determine if a power of attorney 16
30	30	should be suspended; amending ss. 744.3215 and 17
31	31	744.372, F.S.; requiring a full reevaluation of the 18
32	32	need for guardianship after a certain time; 19
33	33	prohibiting certain judges from overseeing the 20
34	34	reevaluation proceedings; amending s. 744.331, F.S.; 21
35	35	requiring the court to impanel a jury for a certain 22
36	36	purpose; requiring the court to establish visitation 23
37	37	rights of an alleged incapacitated person's family; 24
38	38	creating a rebuttable presumption; requiring clear and 25
39	39
40	40	HB 297 2023
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42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb0297-00
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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	convincing evidence to deny visitation or other 26
52	52	contact; authorizing the court to establish reasonable 27
53	53	limitations on such visitation; requiring that any 28
54	54	limitations on visitation or other contact be 29
55	55	specified in the order determining incapacity; 30
56	56	requiring a jury to make certain decisions under 31
57	57	certain circumstances ; authorizing the court to grant 32
58	58	authority to certain persons even if a guardian is 33
59	59	appointed; amending s. 744.334, F.S.; revising 34
60	60	requirements for a petition for the appointment of a 35
61	61	guardian; amending ss. 744.365 and 744.3678, F.S.; 36
62	62	requiring the verifie d inventory and annual accounting 37
63	63	be made available to certain persons; amending ss. 38
64	64	744.361, 744.462, and 744.474, F.S.; conforming 39
65	65	provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. 40
66	66	44.407 and 744.2003, F.S.; conforming cross -41
67	67	references; providing an ef fective date. 42
68	68	43
69	69	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 44
70	70	45
71	71	Section 1. This act may be cited as "Karilyn's Law." 46
72	72	Section 2. Subsections (8) through (22) of section 47
73	73	744.102, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (9) 48
74	74	through (23), respectively, and a new subsection (8) is added to 49
75	75	that section, to read: 50
76	76
77	77	HB 297 2023
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79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb0297-00
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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	744.102 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 51
89	89	(8) "Family" means a parent, sibling, child, spouse, or 52
90	90	any other relative by blood, marriage, or adoption of the minor, 53
91	91	ward, or alleged incapacitated person. 54
92	92	Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 744.2006, Florida 55
93	93	Statutes, is amended to read: 56
94	94	744.2006 Office of Public and Professional Guardians; 57
95	95	appointment, notification. — 58
96	96	(2) The executive director shall a ppoint or contract with 59
97	97	a public guardian from the list of candidates described in 60
98	98	subsection (1). A public guardian must meet the qualifications 61
99	99	for a guardian as prescribed in s. 744.309(1)(a). Public 62
100	100	guardians for alleged incapacitated persons or minors must be 63
101	101	appointed on a rotating basis by the executive director. Upon 64
102	102	appointment of the public guardian, the executive director shall 65
103	103	notify the chief judge of the judicial circuit and the Chief 66
104	104	Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, in writing, of the 67
105	105	appointment. 68
106	106	Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 744.3021, Florida 69
107	107	Statutes, is amended to read: 70
108	108	744.3021 Guardians of minors. — 71
109	109	(2) A minor is not required to attend the hearing on the 72
110	110	petition for appointment of a guardian, unless otherwise 73
111	111	directed by the court. During the hearing on the petition for 74
112	112	appointment of a guardian, the court shall establish the 75
113	113
114	114	HB 297 2023
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118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119	119	hb0297-00
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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
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	visitation rights of the minor's family. There is a rebuttable 76
126	126	presumption in favor of allowing visitation or other contact 77
127	127	with the minor's family. Visitation or other contact may only be 78
128	128	denied upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that 79
129	129	visitation or other contact is not in the best interests of the 80
130	130	minor. The court may establish reasonable limitations on the 81
131	131	visitation rights of th e minor's family. The court must include 82
132	132	any such limitations in the order of appointment. 83
133	133	Section 5. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 744.3203, 84
134	134	Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 85
135	135	744.3203 Suspension of power of attorney before incapacity 86
136	136	determination.— 87
137	137	(1) At any time during proceedings to determine incapacity 88
138	138	but before the entry of an order determining incapacity, the 89
139	139	authority granted under an alleged incapacitated person's power 90
140	140	of attorney to a parent, spouse, child, or grandchild is 91
141	141	suspended only if when the petitioner files a motion stating 92
142	142	that a specific power of attorney should be suspended for any of 93
143	143	the following grounds: 94
144	144	(a) The agent's decisions are not in accord with the 95
145	145	alleged incapacitated person's known desires. 96
146	146	(b) The power of attorney is invalid. 97
147	147	(c) The agent has failed to discharge his or her duties or 98
148	148	incapacity or illness renders the agent incapable of discharging 99
149	149	duties. 100
150	150
151	151	HB 297 2023
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153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb0297-00
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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
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160	160
161	161
162	162	(d) The agent has abused powers. 101
163	163	(e) There is a danger that the property of the alleged 102
164	164	incapacitated person may be wasted, misappropriated, or lost 103
165	165	unless the authority under the power of attorney is suspended. 104
166	166	105
167	167	Grounds for suspending a power of attorney do not include the 106
168	168	existence of a dispute between the agent and the petitioner 107
169	169	which is more appropriate for resolution in some other forum or 108
170	170	a legal proceeding other than a guardianship proceeding. 109
171	171	(3) Upon the filing of a response to the motion by the 110
172	172	agent under the power of attorney, the court shall impanel a 111
173	173	jury to determine if the petitioner met his or her burden to 112
174	174	suspend a power of attorney and schedule the motion for an 113
175	175	expedited hearing. Unless an emergency arises and the agent's 114
176	176	response sets forth the nature of the emergency, the property or 115
177	177	matter involved, and the power to be exercised by the agent, 116
178	178	notice must be given to all interested persons, the alleged 117
179	179	incapacitated person, and the alleged incapacitated person's 118
180	180	attorney. Based on the jury's determination, the court order 119
181	181	following the hearing must set forth what power s the agent is 120
182	182	permitted to exercise, if any, pending the outcome of the 121
183	183	petition to determine incapacity. 122
184	184	Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 123
185	185	744.3215, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 124
186	186	744.3215 Rights of persons determined inc apacitated.— 125
187	187
188	188	HB 297 2023
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190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb0297-00
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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
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197	197
198	198
199	199	(1) A person who has been determined to be incapacitated 126
200	200	retains the right: 127
201	201	(b) To have continuing review of the need for restriction 128
202	202	of his or her rights and every 3 years a full reevaluation of 129
203	203	the need for guardianship, including an exa mination by an 130
204	204	examining committee and an adjudicatory hearing as required 131
205	205	under s. 744.331. The adjudicatory hearing may not be conducted 132
206	206	by the same judge who conducted the initial adjudicatory 133
207	207	hearing. 134
208	208	Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and paragraphs 135
209	209	(a) and (f) of subsection (6) of section 744.331, Florida 136
210	210	Statutes, are amended and paragraph (d) is added to subsection 137
211	211	(5) of that section, to read: 138
212	212	744.331 Procedures to determine incapacity. — 139
213	213	(5) ADJUDICATORY HEARING. — 140
214	214	(a) Upon appointment of the examining committee, the court 141
215	215	shall set the date upon which the petition will be heard and, if 142
216	216	necessary, impanel a jury to determine the validity of the 143
217	217	alleged incapacitated person's trust, trust amendment, power of 144
218	218	attorney, or will. The adjudicatory hearing must be conducted at 145
219	219	least 10 days, which time period may be waived, but no more than 146
220	220	30 days, after the filing of the last filed report of the 147
221	221	examining committee members, unless good cause is shown. The 148
222	222	adjudicatory hearing must be con ducted at the time and place 149
223	223	specified in the notice of hearing and in a manner consistent 150
224	224
225	225	HB 297 2023
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227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb0297-00
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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	with due process. 151
237	237	(d) In the adjudicatory hearing on a petition alleging 152
238	238	incapacity, the court shall establish the visitation rights of 153
239	239	the family of the person al leged to be incapacitated. There is a 154
240	240	rebuttable presumption in favor of allowing visitation or other 155
241	241	contact with the family of the person alleged to be 156
242	242	incapacitated. Visitation or other contact may only be denied 157
243	243	upon a showing of clear and convincing e vidence that visitation 158
244	244	or other contact is not in the best interests of the person 159
245	245	alleged to be incapacitated. The court may establish reasonable 160
246	246	limitations on the visitation rights of the family of the person 161
247	247	alleged to be incapacitated. The court must include any such 162
248	248	limitations in the order determining incapacity. 163
249	249	(6) ORDER DETERMINING INCAPACITY. —If, after making 164
250	250	findings of fact on the basis of clear and convincing evidence, 165
251	251	the court finds that a person is incapacitated with respect to 166
252	252	the exercise of a particular right, or all rights, the court 167
253	253	shall enter a written order determining such incapacity. In 168
254	254	determining incapacity, the court shall consider the person's 169
255	255	unique needs and abilities and may only remove those rights that 170
256	256	the court finds the person does not have the capacity to 171
257	257	exercise. A person is determined to be incapacitated only with 172
258	258	respect to those rights specified in the order. 173
259	259	(a) The court shall make all of the following findings: 174
260	260	1. The exact nature and scope of the person's 175
261	261
262	262	HB 297 2023
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264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb0297-00
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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	incapacities.; 176
274	274	2. The exact areas in which the person lacks capacity to 177
275	275	make informed decisions about care and treatment services or to 178
276	276	meet the essential requirements for her or his physical or 179
277	277	mental health or safety .; 180
278	278	3. The specific legal disabili ties to which the person is 181
279	279	subject.; and 182
280	280	4. The specific rights that the person is incapable of 183
281	281	exercising. 184
282	282	5. The limitations on the visitation rights of the 185
283	283	person's family, if any. 186
284	284	(f) If Upon the filing of a verified statement by an 187
285	285	interested person files a verified statement stating: 188
286	286	1. that he or she has a good faith belief that the alleged 189
287	287	incapacitated person's trust, trust amendment, or durable power 190
288	288	of attorney, or will is invalid; and provides 191
289	289	2. a reasonable factual basis for that be lief, the court 192
290	290	must impanel a jury to consider the facts provided and determine 193
291	291	if the trust, trust amendment, or durable power of attorney , or 194
292	292	will is a reasonable shall not be deemed to be an alternative to 195
293	293	the appointment of a guardian. However, the appointment of a 196
294	294	guardian does not limit the court's power to determine that 197
295	295	certain authority granted by a trust, trust amendment, durable 198
296	296	power of attorney, or will is to remain exercisable by the 199
297	297	agent. 200
298	298
299	299	HB 297 2023
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301	301
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303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
304	304	hb0297-00
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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	Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 744.334, Florida 201
311	311	Statutes, is amended to read: 202
312	312	744.334 Petition for appointment of guardian or 203
313	313	professional guardian; contents. — 204
314	314	(1) Every petition for the appointment of a guardian must 205
315	315	shall be verified by the petitioner and shall contain all of the 206
316	316	following information statements, to the best of petitioner's 207
317	317	knowledge and belief :, showing 208
318	318	(a) The name, age, residence, and post office address of 209
319	319	the alleged incapacitated person or minor .; 210
320	320	(b) The nature of the her or his incapacity of the alleged 211
321	321	incapacitated person, if any.; 212
322	322	(c) The extent of guardianship desired, either plenary or 213
323	323	limited.; 214
324	324	(d) The residence and post office address of the 215
325	325	petitioner.; 216
326	326	(e) The names and addresses of the next of kin of the 217
327	327	alleged incapacitated person or minor, if known to the 218
328	328	petitioner.; 219
329	329	(f) The name of the proposed guardian and the reasons why 220
330	330	she or he should be appointed guardian .; 221
331	331	(g) Whether the proposed guardian is a professional 222
332	332	guardian.; 223
333	333	(h) The relationship and previous relationship of the 224
334	334	proposed guardian to the alleged incapacitated person or minor .; 225
335	335
336	336	HB 297 2023
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338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341	341	hb0297-00
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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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346	346
347	347	(i) Whether the alleged incapacitated person or minor has 226
348	348	a valid trust, trust amendment, durable power of attorney, or 227
349	349	will. 228
350	350	(j) Any other type of guardianship under part III of this 229
351	351	chapter or alternatives to guardianship that the alleged 230
352	352	incapacitated person or minor has designated or is in currently 231
353	353	or has been in previously .; 232
354	354	(k) The reasons why a guardian advocate under s. 744.3085 233
355	355	or other alternatives to guardianship , including a valid w ill 234
356	356	executed as required in s. 732.502, are insufficient to meet the 235
357	357	needs of the alleged incapacitated person or minor .; and 236
358	358	(l) The nature and value of property subject to the 237
359	359	guardianship. The petition must state whether a willing and 238
360	360	qualified guardian cannot be located. 239
361	361	240
362	362	As used in this subsection, the term "alternatives to 241
363	363	guardianship" means an advance directive as defined in s. 242
364	364	765.101, a durable power of attorney as provided in chapter 709, 243
365	365	a representative payee under 42 U.S.C. s. 1007, or a tru st 244
366	366	instrument as defined in s. 736.0103. 245
367	367	Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (13) and paragraph 246
368	368	(d) of subsection (14) of section 744.361, Florida Statutes, are 247
369	369	amended to read: 248
370	370	744.361 Powers and duties of guardian. — 249
371	371	(13) Recognizing that every individual has unique needs 250
372	372
373	373	HB 297 2023
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377	377	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378	378	hb0297-00
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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
381	381
382	382
383	383
384	384	and abilities, a guardian who is given authority over a ward's 251
385	385	person shall, as appropriate under the circumstances: 252
386	386	(b) Allow the ward to maintain visitation or other contact 253
387	387	with his or her family and friends unless a court has: 254
388	388	1. Determined that visitation or other contact is not in 255
389	389	the best interests of the guardian believes that such contact 256
390	390	may cause harm to the ward; or 257
391	391	2. Placed reasonable limitations on such visitation or 258
392	392	other contact in the order determining incapacity or, in the 259
393	393	case of a minor, the order of appointment . 260
394	394	(14) A professional guardian must ensure that each of the 261
395	395	guardian's wards is personally visited by the guardian or one of 262
396	396	the guardian's professional staff at least once each calendar 263
397	397	quarter. During the personal visit, the guardian or the 264
398	398	guardian's professional staff person shall assess: 265
399	399	(d) The nature and extent of visitation or other contact 266
400	400	and communication with the ward's family and friends. 267
401	401	268
402	402	This subsection does not apply to a pro fessional guardian who 269
403	403	has been appointed only as guardian of the property. 270
404	404	Section 10. Section 744.462, Florida Statutes, is amended 271
405	405	to read: 272
406	406	744.462 Determination regarding alternatives to 273
407	407	guardianship.—Any judicial determination concerning the val idity 274
408	408	of the ward's durable power of attorney, trust, or trust 275
409	409
410	410	HB 297 2023
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414	414	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	amendment, or will must shall be promptly reported in the 276
422	422	guardianship proceeding by the guardian of the property. If the 277
423	423	instrument has been judicially determined to be valid or if, 278
424	424	after the appointment of a guardian, a petition is filed 279
425	425	alleging that there is an alternative to guardianship which will 280
426	426	sufficiently address the problems of the ward, the court shall 281
427	427	impanel a jury to review the continued need for a guardian and 282
428	428	the extent of the need for delegation of the ward's rights. 283
429	429	Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 744.365, Florida 284
430	430	Statutes, is amended to read: 285
431	431	744.365 Verified inventory. — 286
432	432	(1) FILING.—A guardian of the property shall file a 287
433	433	verified inventory of the ward's property. The verified 288
434	434	inventory must be made available to the ward's family, next of 289
435	435	kin, and the beneficiaries and heirs of a valid will. 290
436	436	Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 744.3678, Florida 291
437	437	Statutes, is amended to read: 292
438	438	744.3678 Annual accounting. — 293
439	439	(1) Each guardian of the property must file an annual 294
440	440	accounting with the court. The annual accounting must be made 295
441	441	available to the ward's family, next of kin, an d the 296
442	442	beneficiaries and heirs of a valid will. 297
443	443	Section 13. Section 744.372, Florida Statutes, is amended 298
444	444	to read: 299
445	445	744.372 Judicial review of guardianships. —The court 300
446	446
447	447	HB 297 2023
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449	449
450	450
451	451	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	retains jurisdiction over all guardianships. 301
459	459	(1) The court shall review the approp riateness and extent 302
460	460	of a guardianship annually and: 303
461	461	(a)(1) If an objection to the terms of the guardianship 304
462	462	report has been filed pursuant to s. 744.367; 305
463	463	(b)(2) If interim review has been requested under s. 306
464	464	744.3715; 307
465	465	(c)(3) If a person, including th e ward, has filed a 308
466	466	suggestion of increased capacity; or 309
467	467	(d)(4) If the guardianship report has not been received 310
468	468	and the guardian has failed to respond to a show cause order. 311
469	469	(2) Every 3 years the court must conduct a full 312
470	470	reevaluation of the need for guardianship, including an 313
471	471	examination by an examining committee and an adjudicatory 314
472	472	hearing as required under s. 744.331. The adjudicatory hearing 315
473	473	required under this subsection may not be conducted by the same 316
474	474	judge who conducted the initial adjudicatory hearing. 317
475	475	Section 14. Subsection (20) of section 744.474, Florida 318
476	476	Statutes, is amended to read: 319
477	477	744.474 Reasons for removal of guardian. —A guardian may be 320
478	478	removed for any of the following reasons, and the removal shall 321
479	479	be in addition to any other pen alties prescribed by law: 322
480	480	(20) Upon a showing that removal of the current guardian 323
481	481	is in the best interests interest of the ward. In determining 324
482	482	whether a guardian who is a family member of related by blood or 325
483	483
484	484	HB 297 2023
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486	486
487	487
488	488	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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	marriage to the ward is to be removed, there is shall be a 326
496	496	rebuttable presumption that the guardian is acting in the best 327
497	497	interests of the ward. 328
498	498	Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 329
499	499	44.407, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 330
500	500	44.407 Elder-focused dispute resolution process. — 331
501	501	(5) QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERCARING COORDINATORS. — 332
502	502	(a) The court shall appoint qualified eldercaring 333
503	503	coordinators who: 334
504	504	1. Meet one of the following professional requirements: 335
505	505	a. Are licensed as a mental health professional under 336
506	506	chapter 491 and hold at least a master's degree in the 337
507	507	professional field of practice; 338
508	508	b. Are licensed as a psychologist under chapter 490; 339
509	509	c. Are licensed as a physician under chapter 458 or 340
510	510	chapter 459; 341
511	511	d. Are licensed as a nurse under chapter 464 and hold at 342
512	512	least a master's degree; 343
513	513	e. Are certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family 344
514	514	mediator and hold at least a master's degree; 345
515	515	f. Are a member in good standing of The Florida Bar; or 346
516	516	g. Are a professional guardian as defined in s. 744.102 s. 347
517	517	744.102(17) and hold at least a master's degree. 348
518	518	2. Have completed all of the following: 349
519	519	a. Three years of postlicensure or postcertification 350
520	520
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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
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532	532	practice.; 351
533	533	b. A family mediation training program certified by the 352
534	534	Florida Supreme Court .; and 353
535	535	c. An eldercaring coordinator training program certified 354
536	536	by the Florida Supreme Court. The training must total at least 355
537	537	44 hours and must include advanced tactics for dispute 356
538	538	resolution of issues related to aging, illness, incapacity, or 357
539	539	other vulnerabilities associated wit h elders, as well as elder, 358
540	540	guardianship, and incapacity law and procedures and less 359
541	541	restrictive alternatives to guardianship; phases of eldercaring 360
542	542	coordination and the role and functions of an eldercaring 361
543	543	coordinator; the elder's role within eldercaring coordination; 362
544	544	family dynamics related to eldercaring coordination; eldercaring 363
545	545	coordination skills and techniques; multicultural competence and 364
546	546	its use in eldercaring coordination; at least 6 hours of the 365
547	547	implications of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitat ion and other 366
548	548	safety issues pertinent to the training; at least 4 hours of 367
549	549	ethical considerations pertaining to the training; use of 368
550	550	technology within eldercaring coordination; and court -specific 369
551	551	eldercaring coordination procedures. Pending certification o f a 370
552	552	training program by the Florida Supreme Court, the eldercaring 371
553	553	coordinator must document completion of training that satisfies 372
554	554	the hours and the elements prescribed in this sub -subparagraph. 373
555	555	3. Have successfully passed a Level 2 background screening 374
556	556	as provided in s. 435.04(2) and (3) or are exempt from 375
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569	569	disqualification under s. 435.07. The prospective eldercaring 376
570	570	coordinator must submit a full set of fingerprints to the court 377
571	571	or to a vendor, entity, or agency authorized by s. 943.053(13). 378
572	572	The court, vendor, entity, or agency shall forward the 379
573	573	fingerprints to the Department of Law Enforcement for state 380
574	574	processing, and the Department of Law Enforcement shall forward 381
575	575	the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 382
576	576	national processing. The pro spective eldercaring coordinator 383
577	577	shall pay the fees for state and federal fingerprint processing. 384
578	578	The state cost for fingerprint processing shall be as provided 385
579	579	in s. 943.053(3)(e) for records provided to persons or entities 386
580	580	other than those specified as e xceptions therein. 387
581	581	4. Have not been a respondent in a final order granting an 388
582	582	injunction for protection against domestic, dating, sexual, or 389
583	583	repeat violence or stalking or exploitation of an elder or a 390
584	584	disabled person. 391
585	585	5. Have met any additional qualif ications the court may 392
586	586	require to address issues specific to the parties. 393
587	587	Section 16. Subsection (3) of section 744.2003, Florida 394
588	588	Statutes, is amended to read: 395
589	589	744.2003 Regulation of professional guardians; 396
590	590	application; bond required; educational req uirements.— 397
591	591	(3) Each professional guardian defined in s. 744.102 s. 398
592	592	744.102(17) and public guardian must receive a minimum of 40 399
593	593	hours of instruction and training. Each professional guardian 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
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606	606	must receive a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education ever y 401
607	607	2 calendar years after the year in which the initial 40 -hour 402
608	608	educational requirement is met. The instruction and education 403
609	609	must be completed through a course approved or offered by the 404
610	610	Office of Public and Professional Guardians. The expenses 405
611	611	incurred to satisfy the educational requirements prescribed in 406
612	612	this section may not be paid with the assets of any ward. This 407
613	613	subsection does not apply to any attorney who is licensed to 408
614	614	practice law in this state or an institution acting as guardian 409
615	615	under s. 744.2002(7). 410
616	616	Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 411