FL S1396

Revises the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to prohibit appointment of employees of the Department of Elderly Affairs who are not employed within the ombudsman program itself.

Expands the definition of "direct service provider" to include administrators, financial officers, and any person expected to provide personal care or have access to client funds or living areas, while removing the exemption for attorneys from level 2 background screening requirements.

Requires the Office of Public and Professional Guardians to offer an online education course to satisfy guardian education requirements and produce information about guardianship alternatives for dissemination by area agencies on aging.

Increases continuing education requirements for professional guardians from 16 to 30 hours every 2 calendar years, with specific required topics including fiduciary responsibilities, professional ethics, advance directives, abuse and exploitation, and guardianship law.

Accelerates complaint investigation timelines, requiring notification of complainants within 10 business days when complaints are deemed not legally sufficient, completion of investigations within 45 days, and notification of findings within 10 business days after investigation completion; requires court clerks to report sanctions imposed on professional guardians within 10 business days.