IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. IN RE: PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN REGISTRY APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN Chapter 744, Florida Statutes, authorizes court appointment of professional guardians, subject to the considerations set forth in Section 744.312, Florida Statutes. The Of?ce of the Public and Professional Guardians in the Department of Elder Affairs provides a current list of registered professional guardians, who are also listed on the Department of Elder Affairs website. There is both a need for a fair and impartial manner of selecting professional guardians and the appointment of guardians to serve indigent wards on a pro bono basis. 1. NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority conferred by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, it is ORDERED as follows: In order to be eligible to be appointed as a professional guardian in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, a professional guardian must annually apply for and be appointed to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit's Professional Guardian Registry a. Applications for the appointment period of January 1, 2017?June 30, 2017 are to be submitted to the Administrative Of?ce of the Court from November 1- December 15, 2016. Applications are to be sent only by email to: Failure to timely submit an application will result in the professional guardian not being appointed to the Registry. To be appointed during subsequent ?scal years (July 1-June 30), applications are to be submitted to the Administrative Of?ce of the Court from May 1~15 of each year. Applications are to be sent only by email to: Failure to timely submit an annual application will result in the professional guardian not being appointed to the Registry. U.) c. To be reappointed during subsequent ?scal years July 1-June 30), renewal applications are to be submitted to the Administrative Of?ce of the Court from May l?May 15 for professional guardians who were appointed to the Registry the preceding ?scal year. Applications are to be sent only by email to: Failure to timely submit a renewal application will result in the professional guardian not being reappointed to the Registry and will require a new application (not renewal) should the professional guardian seek to be reappointed during another ?scal year. A professional guardian will be appointed to the registry upon completion of all of the following: a. satisfaction of the requirements for registration by the Of?ce of Public and Professional Guardian. b. completion of an application to be placed on the Registry ("Application") during the time period speci?ed by the Administrative Of?ce of the Court c. sign an agreement to be bound by the application's terms and conditions including any billing procedures. d. sign an agreement to accept a pro bono appointment as professional guardian in accordance with the terms of the application each application year. Once approved by the AOC, the name of professional guardian will be included on the Registry which will be maintained by the Clerk?s Of?ce. The Clerk will maintain separate wheels on the Registry based upon the professional guardian's Specialized skills and education. Should the interested parties and/or family members not agree on a professional guardian from the Registry, the Court will contact the Clerk of Court who will select a professional guardian whose name next appears on the applicable wheel. If the Court declines to appoint the professional guardian whose name was provided by the Clerk, the Court will make the necessary ?ndings as required by Section 744.3 Florida Statute. The Court will inform the Clerk and obtain the name of the next professional guardian on the applicable wheel. A Professional Guardian may be removed from the Professional Guardian Registry as follows: a. Suspension or Revocation of Registration: When the AOC is noti?ed by the Of?ce 2 of Public and Professional Guardian that a professional guardian's registration is suspended or revoked, the AOC will notify the Clerk to immediately remove the professional guardian from the Registry. The professional guardian may provide information to the AOC that the suspension or revocation is no longer in effect. The AOC, in consultation with the Chief Judge and probate judges, will determine whether the professional guardian is to be reinstated on the Registry. b. Recommendation by Judicial Of?cer: When a judicial officer recommends to the Chief Judge or AOC to remove a professional guardian from the Registry, the Chief Judge may request a meeting with the professional guardian to discuss the circumstances or refer the matter to a committee appointed by the Chief Judge for review and a recommendation as to whether the professional guardian should remain on the registry. After meeting with the professional guardian, or after review of the Committee's recommendation, the Chief Judge will determine whether or not the professional guardian should remain on the Registry. 0. Non acceptance of Pro Bono Appointment: When the professional guardian fails to accept a pro bono appointment, the Chief Judge or AOC, in consultation with the probate judges, will determine if there was good cause for the professional guardian to not accept the pro bono appointment. The professional guardian will not be required to have more than one (1) pro bono appointment by the Court at a time. d. Violation of Law or Standards of Practice: When the Clerk's Inspector General provides information to the Chief Judge or AOC of a professional guardian's violation of Florida Guardianship Law, Florida Criminal Code, or a significant violation of the standards of practice by a professional guardian, the Chief Judge or AOC will consult with the probate judges to determine whether such violations require removal from the Registry. If it is found that such violations require removal, the Chief Judge or AOC will notify the Clerk to remove the professional guardian from the Registry. 2? C0 DONE and SIGNED 1n Chambers at West Palm Beach, B?ach Co ty, Florida, this day of October 2016. e3} Colbath hief Judge