| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to supported decisionmaking authority; 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | amending s. 393.12, F.S.; requiring a circuit court to 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | consider certain needs and abilities of a person with 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | a developmental disability when determining whether to 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | appoint a guardian advocate; providin g requirements 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | for a petition to appoint a guardian advocate for a 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | person with a developmental disability and for a court 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | order if the court finds that such person requires 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | such appointment; amending s. 709.2201, F.S.; 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | authorizing an agent acting for a pri ncipal to grant a 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | supported decisionmaking agreement; creating s. 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 709.2209, F.S.; defining the term "supported 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | decisionmaking agreement"; prohibiting such agreement 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | from acting as a durable power of attorney; 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | authorizing specified authority to a supported 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | decisionmaking agreement; providing that certain 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | communications shall be recognized as a communication 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | of the principal under certain circumstances; amending 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | s. 744.3201, F.S.; requiring a petition to determine 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | incapacity of a person to include specified 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | information relating to the alleged incapacitated 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | person's use of assistance; amending s. 744.331, F.S.; 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | providing requirements for an examining committee 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | member when determining the alleged incapacitated 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 11 |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | person's ability to exercise his or her rights; 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | amending s. 744.464, F.S.; authorizing a suggestion of 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | capacity to include certain capabilities of the ward; 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | amending s. 1003.5716, F.S.; revising the requirements 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | for a specified process relating to individual 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | education plans for certain students to include 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | supported decisionmaking agreements; providing an 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | effective date. 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | of subsection (3), and subsection (8) of section 393.12, Florida 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | Statutes, are amended to read: 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | 393.12 Capacity; appointment of guardian advocate. — 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | (2) APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN ADVOCATE. — 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | (a) A circuit court may appoint a guardian advocate, 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | without an adjudication of incapacity, for a person with 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | developmental disabilities, if the person lacks the 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | decisionmaking ability to do some, but not all, of the 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | decisionmaking tasks necessary to care for his or her person or 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | property or if the person has voluntarily petitioned for the 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | appointment of a guardian advocate. In determining whether to 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | appoint a guardian advocate, the court shall consider the 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | person's unique needs and abilities, including, but not limited 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 11 |
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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 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | to, the person's ability to independently exercise his or her 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | rights with appropriate assistance, and may only d elegate 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | decisionmaking tasks that the person lacks the decisionmaking 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | ability to exercise. Except as otherwise specified, the 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | proceeding shall be governed by the Florida Rules of Probate 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | Procedure. 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | (3) PETITION.— 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | (a) A petition to appoint a guardian ad vocate for a person 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | with a developmental disability may be executed by an adult 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | person who is a resident of this state. The petition must be 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | verified and must: 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | 1. State the name, age, and present address of the 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | petitioner and his or her relationship to t he person with a 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | developmental disability; 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | 2. State the name, age, county of residence, and present 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | address of the person with a developmental disability; 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | 3. Allege that the petitioner believes that the person 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | needs a guardian advocate and specify the factual information on 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | which such belief is based; 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | 4. Specify the exact areas in which the person lacks the 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | decisionmaking ability to make informed decisions about his or 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | her care and treatment services or to meet the essential 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | requirements for his or he r physical health or safety; 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | 5. Specify the legal disabilities to which the person is 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | subject; and 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 11 |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | 6. Identify any other type of guardian advocacy or 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | alternatives to guardian advocacy that the person has 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | designated, is in currently, or has been in prev iously and the 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | reasons why alternatives to guardian advocacy are insufficient 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | to meet the needs of the person; 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | 7. State whether the person uses assistance to exercise 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | his or her rights, including, but not limited to, supported 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | decisionmaking, and if so, why the assistance is inappropriate 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | or insufficient to allow the person to independently exercise 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | the person's rights; and 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | 8.6. State the name of the proposed guardian advocate, the 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | relationship of that person to the person with a developmental 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | disability; the relationship that the proposed guardian advocate 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | had or has with a provider of health care services, residential 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | services, or other services to the person with a developmental 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | disability; and the reason why this person should be appointed. 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | The petition must also state if a willing and qualified guardian 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | advocate cannot be located. 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | (8) COURT ORDER.—If the court finds the person with a 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | developmental disability requires the appointment of a guardian 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | advocate, the court shall enter a written order appo inting the 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | guardian advocate and containing the findings of facts and 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | conclusions of law on which the court made its decision, 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | including: 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | (a) The nature and scope of the person's lack of 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 11 |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | decisionmaking ability; 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | (b) The exact areas in which the individu al lacks 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | decisionmaking ability to make informed decisions about care and 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | treatment services or to meet the essential requirements for his 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | or her physical health and safety; 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | (c) The specific legal disabilities to which the person 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | with a developmental dis ability is subject; 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | (d) The identity of existing alternatives and a finding as 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | to the validity or sufficiency of such alternative to alleviate 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | the need for the appointment of a guardian advocate; 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | (e)(d) The name of the person selected as guardian 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | advocate and the reasons for the court's selection; and 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | (f)(e) The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | guardian advocate, including bonding of the guardian advocate, 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | as provided in s. 744.351. 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | Section 2. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | section 709.2201, Florida Statutes, to read: 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | 709.2201 Authority of agent. — 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | (2) As a confirmation of the law in effect in this state 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | when this part became effective, such authorization may include, 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | without limitation, authority to: 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | (d) If such authority is specifically limited, grant a 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | supported decisionmaking agreement as defined in s. 709.2209(1). 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | Section 3. Section 709.2209, Florida Statutes, is created 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | to read: 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 11 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | 709.2209 Supported decisionmaking agreements. — 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | (1) For purposes of this section , "supported 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | decisionmaking agreement" means an agreement in which the power 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | of attorney grants an agent the authority to receive information 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | and to communicate on behalf of the principal without granting 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | the agent the authority to bind or act on behalf of the 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | principal on any subject matter. 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | (2) A supported decisionmaking agreement is not a durable 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | power of attorney under s. 709.2104. Any language of durability 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | in a supported decisionmaking agreement is of no effect. 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | (3) A supported decisionmaking agre ement may only include 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | the authority to: 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | (a) Obtain information on behalf of the principal, 138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | including, but not limited to, protected health information 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | 1996, 42 U.S.C. s. 1320d, as amended; educational records under 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | s. 1232g; or information protected under 42 U.S.C. s. 290dd -2 or 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | 42 C.F.R. part 2. 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | (b) Assist the principal in communicating with third 145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | parties, including conveyi ng the principal's communications, 146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | decisions, and directions to third parties on behalf of the 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | principal. 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | (4) A communication made by the principal with the 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | assistance of or through an agent under a supported 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 11 |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | decisionmaking agreement that is within the a uthority granted to 151 |
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| 237 | 237 | | the agent may be recognized for as a communication of the 152 |
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| 238 | 238 | | principal. 153 |
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| 239 | 239 | | Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 744.3201, Florida 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 155 |
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| 241 | 241 | | 744.3201 Petition to determine incapacity. — 156 |
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| 242 | 242 | | (2) The petition must be verif ied and must: 157 |
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| 243 | 243 | | (a) State the name, age, and present address of the 158 |
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| 244 | 244 | | petitioner and his or her relationship to the alleged 159 |
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| 245 | 245 | | incapacitated person; 160 |
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| 246 | 246 | | (b) State the name, age, county of residence, and present 161 |
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| 247 | 247 | | address of the alleged incapacitated person; 162 |
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| 248 | 248 | | (c) Specify the primary language spoken by the alleged 163 |
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| 249 | 249 | | incapacitated person, if known; 164 |
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| 250 | 250 | | (d) State whether the alleged incapacitated person uses 165 |
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| 251 | 251 | | assistance to exercise his or her rights, including, but not 166 |
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| 252 | 252 | | limited to, supported decisionmaking, and if so, why th e 167 |
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| 253 | 253 | | assistance is inappropriate or insufficient to allow the person 168 |
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| 254 | 254 | | to independently exercise the person's rights; 169 |
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| 255 | 255 | | (e)(d) Allege that the petitioner believes the alleged 170 |
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| 256 | 256 | | incapacitated person to be incapacitated and specify the factual 171 |
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| 257 | 257 | | information on which such belief is based and the names and 172 |
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| 258 | 258 | | addresses of all persons known to the petitioner who have 173 |
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| 259 | 259 | | knowledge of such facts through personal observations; 174 |
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| 260 | 260 | | (f)(e) State the name and address of the alleged 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 11 |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | incapacitated person's attending or family physician, if known; 176 |
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| 274 | 274 | | (g)(f) State which rights enumerated in s. 744.3215 the 177 |
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| 275 | 275 | | alleged incapacitated person is incapable of exercising, to the 178 |
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| 276 | 276 | | best of petitioner's knowledge. If the petitioner has 179 |
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| 277 | 277 | | insufficient experience to make such judgments, the petition 180 |
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| 278 | 278 | | must so state; and 181 |
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| 279 | 279 | | (h)(g) State the names, relationships, and addresses of 182 |
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| 280 | 280 | | the next of kin of the alleged incapacitated person, so far as 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | are known, specifying the dates of birth of any who are minors. 184 |
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| 282 | 282 | | Section 5. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section 185 |
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| 283 | 283 | | 744.331, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 186 |
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| 284 | 284 | | 744.331 Procedures to determine incapacity. — 187 |
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| 285 | 285 | | (3) EXAMINING COMMITTEE. — 188 |
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| 286 | 286 | | (e) Each member of the examining committee shall examine 189 |
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| 287 | 287 | | the person. Each examining committee member must determine the 190 |
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| 288 | 288 | | alleged incapacitated person's ability to exercise those rights 191 |
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| 289 | 289 | | specified in s. 744.3215. An examining committee member may 192 |
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| 290 | 290 | | allow a person to assist in communicating with the alleged 193 |
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| 291 | 291 | | incapacitated person when requested by the court -appointed 194 |
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| 292 | 292 | | counsel for the alleged inca pacitated person and shall identify 195 |
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| 293 | 293 | | the person who provided assistance and describe the nature and 196 |
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| 294 | 294 | | method of assistance provided in his or her report. In addition 197 |
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| 295 | 295 | | to the examination, each examining committee member must have 198 |
|---|
| 296 | 296 | | access to, and may consider, pr evious examinations of the 199 |
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| 297 | 297 | | person, including, but not limited to, habilitation plans, 200 |
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| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 11 |
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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 |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | school records, and psychological and psychosocial reports 201 |
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| 311 | 311 | | voluntarily offered for use by the alleged incapacitated person. 202 |
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| 312 | 312 | | Each member of the examining committee must fi le his or her 203 |
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| 313 | 313 | | report with the clerk of the court within 15 days after 204 |
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| 314 | 314 | | appointment. 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 206 |
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| 316 | 316 | | 744.464, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 207 |
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| 317 | 317 | | 744.464 Restoration to capacity. — 208 |
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| 318 | 318 | | (2) SUGGESTION OF CAPACITY. — 209 |
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| 319 | 319 | | (a) Any interested person, including the ward, may file a 210 |
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| 320 | 320 | | suggestion of capacity. The suggestion of capacity must state 211 |
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| 321 | 321 | | that the ward is currently capable of exercising some or all of 212 |
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| 322 | 322 | | the rights which were removed , including the capability to 213 |
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| 323 | 323 | | independently exercise his or her rights with appropriate 214 |
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| 324 | 324 | | assistance. 215 |
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| 325 | 325 | | Section 7. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 216 |
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| 326 | 326 | | 1003.5716, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 217 |
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| 327 | 327 | | 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career 218 |
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| 328 | 328 | | opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of 219 |
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| 329 | 329 | | age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate 220 |
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| 330 | 330 | | public education. As used in this section, the term "IEP" means 221 |
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| 331 | 331 | | individual education plan. 222 |
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| 332 | 332 | | (1) To ensure quality planning for a successful transition 223 |
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| 333 | 333 | | of a student with a disability to postsecondary education and 224 |
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| 334 | 334 | | career opportunities, during the student's seventh grade year or 225 |
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| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 11 |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
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| 345 | 345 | | |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | when the student attains the age of 12, whichever occurs first, 226 |
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| 348 | 348 | | an IEP team shall begin the process of, and develop an IEP for, 227 |
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| 349 | 349 | | identifying the need for transition services before the student 228 |
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| 350 | 350 | | with a disability enters high school or attains the age of 14 229 |
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| 351 | 351 | | years, whichever occurs first, in order for his or her 230 |
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| 352 | 352 | | postsecondary goals and career goals to be identified. The plan 231 |
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| 353 | 353 | | must be operational and in place to begin implementation on the 232 |
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| 354 | 354 | | first day of the student's first year in high school. This 233 |
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| 355 | 355 | | process must include, but is not limited to: 234 |
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| 356 | 356 | | (d) At least 1 year before the student reaches the age of 235 |
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| 357 | 357 | | majority, provision of information and instructi on to the 236 |
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| 358 | 358 | | student and his or her parent on self -determination and the 237 |
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| 359 | 359 | | legal rights and responsibilities regarding the educational 238 |
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| 360 | 360 | | decisions that transfer to the student upon attaining the age of 239 |
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| 361 | 361 | | 18. The information must include the ways in which the studen t 240 |
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| 362 | 362 | | may provide informed consent to allow his or her parent to 241 |
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| 363 | 363 | | continue to participate in educational decisions, including: 242 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | 1. Informed consent to grant permission to access 243 |
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| 365 | 365 | | confidential records protected under the Family Educational 244 |
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| 366 | 366 | | Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as provided in s. 1002.22. 245 |
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| 367 | 367 | | 2. Powers of attorney as provided in chapter 709. 246 |
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| 368 | 368 | | 3. Guardian advocacy as provided in s. 393.12. 247 |
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| 369 | 369 | | 4. Guardianship as provided in chapter 744. 248 |
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| 370 | 370 | | 5. Supported decisionmaking agreements as provided in s. 249 |
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| 371 | 371 | | 709.2209. 250 |
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