CS for SB 1226 - Guardianship

• Renames and reorganizes the "Statewide Public Guardianship Office" to the "Office of Public and Professional Guardians" within the Department of Elderly Affairs with expanded oversight of both public and professional guardians.

• Requires professional guardians to be selected from a court-maintained registry compiled by chief judges, appointed in rotating order unless good cause is found, and certified by the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.

• Establishes disciplinary procedures for professional guardians including monitoring, mandatory education, and suspension or revocation of registration conducted through administrative hearings under chapter 120.

• Requires the Office of Public and Professional Guardians to develop monitoring tools for professional guardians and grants the office access to all court records for guardianship cases with professional guardian appointments.

• Appropriates $821,670 in recurring General Revenue Fund and authorizes 6 full-time equivalent positions for the Office of Public and Professional Guardians for fiscal year 2015-2016, effective January 1, 2016.