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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 1.900 (A) [New Order No. 6.900(A)]
WHEREAS, Florida Statutes 744.3145 (1991) mandates that all guardians receive a minimum of eight hours of instruction and education through a course approved by the chief judge of the Circuit Court; and
WHEREAS, the Institute of Government, Santa Fe Community College, has agreed to coordinate the guardian education course; and
WHEREAS, the Court has prepared a course which meets the criteria established by statute; and
WHEREAS, although some portions of the course pertain only to guardians of property and others only to guardians of the person, the duties and rights of each are so interrelated that the course cannot be divided to train guardians of the person and property separately; and
WHEREAS, the Court has, with the assistance of Tacachale officials, developed an educational curriculum and program tailored to fit the needs of guardians or guardian advocates whose wards are residents of Tacachale or are similarly situated with developmental disabilities and the Tacachale staff, under the direction of the Superintendent of Tacachale, has agreed to arrange for, offer and supervise the teaching of that program; and
WHEREAS, the court has discretion to waive guardian education in certain instances, pursuant to Florida Statutes 744.3145(5),
IT IS THEREFORE
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1. Authorization of Course by Chief Judge.
a. The Government Institute of Santa Fe Community College is appointed to coordinate the guardianship education program, with the responsibility of teaching the course remaining with the Court.
b. All guardians, whether of the person or property or both, shall be required to attend the entire guardian education course as established by the Court for the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
2. Training for Guardians and Guardian Advocates of Tacachale Residents.
a. The training course and videotape developed by the Tacachale staff is hereby approved for use in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Tacachale's guardian education program.
b. The staff of Tacachale, under the supervision of its Superintendent, as employees of the Department of Heath and Rehabilitative Services of the State of Florida, is hereby approved as an organization to coordinate, teach, supervise and administer this education program.
c. This education program and all matters pertaining thereto shall continue to be under the authority of the Administrative Judge of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court for of the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
d. All guardians and guardian advocates of Tacachale residents or similarly situated developmentally disabled persons shall complete the education course offered by Tacachale, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
3. Attorneys.
a. Guardians, who are attorneys, may comply with the requirements of guardian education by certifying under penalties of perjury that they have read the materials provided for the guardian education course as supplied by the Court through the Institute of Government at Santa Fe Community College. The forms must be purchased from Santa Fe at a cost to be determined by the college.
b. Upon the certification being the filed, the attorney shall supply the Court with an order waiving guardian education.
4. Prior Orders Superseded and Abolished.
Administrative Orders 1.900; 1.900 (1) & 1.920 and any other prior administrative orders relating to guardian education are hereby superseded by this order and are deemed abolished to the extent such prior orders are inconsistent herewith.
DONE AND ORDERED at Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida this 26th day of June , 1995.
/Signed
ELZIE S. SANDERS, CHIEF JUDGE