Bill Text: FL S1648 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Support for Incapacitated Adult Children

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs [S1648 Detail]

Download: Florida-2020-S1648-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2020                                    SB 1648
       
       
        
       By Senator Albritton
       
       
       
       
       
       26-00921C-20                                          20201648__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to support for incapacitated adult
    3         children; creating s. 61.1255, F.S.; defining the term
    4         “incapacitated adult child”; specifying that parents
    5         are responsible for supporting an incapacitated adult
    6         child; requiring certain rights of the parents of an
    7         incapacitated adult child to be established in a
    8         guardianship proceeding; prohibiting any person who is
    9         not court appointed from managing assets for or making
   10         decisions for an incapacitated adult child; specifying
   11         individuals who may file a petition to establish
   12         support for an incapacitated adult child; specifying a
   13         timeframe in which such petitions may be filed;
   14         specifying procedures for establishing support;
   15         specifying who may receive such support before and
   16         after the incapacitated adult child’s 18th birthday;
   17         amending s. 61.13, F.S.; specifying that a child
   18         support order need not terminate on the child’s 18th
   19         birthday in certain circumstances; specifying that a
   20         court may modify a child support order for adult
   21         children in certain circumstances; providing that
   22         either parent may consent to mental health treatment
   23         for the child in certain circumstances, unless stated
   24         otherwise in the parenting plan; amending s. 61.29,
   25         F.S.; specifying that support for incapacitated adult
   26         children is determined by certain provisions; amending
   27         s. 61.30, F.S.; specifying that the child support
   28         guidelines apply to minor children and certain adult
   29         children; creating s. 61.31, F.S.; specifying
   30         circumstances the court must consider when determining
   31         the amount of support for an incapacitated adult
   32         child; prohibiting the court from ordering support in
   33         an amount that would negatively impact the
   34         incapacitated adult child’s eligibility for state or
   35         federal programs or benefits; amending s. 393.12,
   36         F.S.; providing an additional circumstance under which
   37         a guardian advocate must be represented by an attorney
   38         in guardianship proceedings; specifying that petitions
   39         to appoint a guardian advocate for an individual with
   40         disabilities may include certain requests for support
   41         from the individual’s parents; creating s. 744.1013,
   42         F.S.; providing guardianship courts with jurisdiction
   43         over petitions for support of incapacitated adult
   44         children; providing for enforceability of such support
   45         orders in a manner consistent with child support
   46         orders entered under certain other provisions;
   47         specifying that such support orders supersede any
   48         orders entered under certain other provisions;
   49         amending s. 744.3201, F.S.; specifying that petitions
   50         for determination of capacity may include certain
   51         requests for payment of support; creating s. 744.422,
   52         F.S.; authorizing guardians of incapacitated adults to
   53         petition the court for certain support payments from
   54         the incapacitated adult’s parents in certain
   55         circumstances; specifying that the amount of such
   56         support is determined by certain provisions; amending
   57         ss. 742.031, 742.06, and 744.3021, F.S.; conforming
   58         provisions to changes made by the act; providing an
   59         effective date.
   60          
   61  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   62  
   63         Section 1. Section 61.1255, Florida Statutes, is created to
   64  read:
   65         61.1255 Support for incapacitated adult children; access;
   66  powers of court.-
   67         (1)For purposes of this section, an “incapacitated adult
   68  child” means an unmarried adult who is incapable of self-support
   69  as a result of a physical or mental incapacity that began before
   70  the person attained the age of 18.
   71         (2)The parent or parents of an incapacitated adult child
   72  are responsible for supporting that child. The right of a parent
   73  or other person to receive and manage support for or manage the
   74  property of an incapacitated adult child or to make decisions to
   75  meet essential requirements for the health or safety of the
   76  incapacitated adult child must be established in a guardianship
   77  proceeding under chapter 393 or chapter 744. A parent or other
   78  person does not have the power to manage support for, manage
   79  property of, or make decisions regarding needs that are
   80  essential to the health and safety of an incapacitated adult
   81  child unless he or she has been appointed as the incapacitated
   82  adult child’s guardian advocate under chapter 393 or guardian
   83  under chapter 744.
   84         (3)The right of a parent or other person to have access to
   85  an incapacitated adult child or to decide where the
   86  incapacitated adult child will live must be established in a
   87  guardianship proceeding brought under chapter 393 or chapter
   88  744.
   89         (4)A petition to establish support for an incapacitated
   90  adult child may be filed only by:
   91         (a)The incapacitated adult child, if his or her right to
   92  sue or defend lawsuits has not been removed by the court;
   93         (b)A parent or other person on behalf of the incapacitated
   94  adult child if he or she has not been appointed a guardian
   95  advocate under chapter 393 or a guardian under chapter 744; or
   96         (c)The incapacitated adult child’s guardian advocate
   97  appointed under chapter 393 or guardian appointed under chapter
   98  744.
   99         (5)A petition to establish support for an incapacitated
  100  adult child may be filed at any time after he or she reaches the
  101  age of 17 years and 6 months.
  102         (6)If a court has jurisdiction over the parties because of
  103  an issue of child support, the parents may agree in writing to
  104  extend support in the existing case, if the agreement is
  105  submitted to the court for approval before the incapacitated
  106  child reaches the age of 18. Otherwise, the amount of support to
  107  be paid by one parent to the other must be established in a
  108  guardianship proceeding.
  109         (7)Support paid after the incapacitated child reaches the
  110  age of 18 may be paid only to the incapacitated adult or his or
  111  her court-appointed guardian advocate or guardian.
  112         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  113  (b) of subsection (2) of section 61.13, Florida Statutes, are
  114  amended to read:
  115         61.13 Support of children; parenting and time-sharing;
  116  powers of court.—
  117         (1)(a) In a proceeding under this chapter, the court may at
  118  any time order either or both parents who owe a duty of support
  119  to a child to pay support to the other parent or, in the case of
  120  both parents, to a third party who has custody in accordance
  121  with the child support guidelines schedule in s. 61.30.
  122         1. All child support orders and income deduction orders
  123  entered on or after October 1, 2010, must provide:
  124         a. For child support to terminate on a child’s 18th
  125  birthday unless the court finds or previously found that the
  126  child or the child who is dependent in fact is 18 years of age,
  127  is still in high school, and is performing in good faith with a
  128  reasonable expectation of graduation before he or she reaches
  129  the age of 19 s. 743.07(2) applies, or is otherwise agreed to by
  130  the parties;
  131         b. A schedule, based on the record existing at the time of
  132  the order, stating the amount of the monthly child support
  133  obligation for all the minor children at the time of the order
  134  and the amount of child support that will be owed for any
  135  remaining children after one or more of the children are no
  136  longer entitled to receive child support; and
  137         c. The month, day, and year that the reduction or
  138  termination of child support becomes effective.
  139         2. The court initially entering an order requiring one or
  140  both parents to make child support payments has continuing
  141  jurisdiction after the entry of the initial order to modify the
  142  amount and terms and conditions of the child support payments if
  143  the modification is found by the court to be in the best
  144  interests of the child and; when the child reaches majority; if
  145  there is a substantial change in the circumstances of the
  146  parties; if the minor child or child who is dependent in fact
  147  and is between the ages of 18 and 19, is still in high school
  148  and is performing in good faith with a reasonable expectation of
  149  graduation before he or she reaches the age of 19 if s.
  150  743.07(2) applies; or when a child is emancipated, marries,
  151  joins the armed services, or dies. The court initially entering
  152  a child support order has continuing jurisdiction to require the
  153  obligee to report to the court on terms prescribed by the court
  154  regarding the disposition of the child support payments.
  155         (2)
  156         (b) A parenting plan approved by the court must, at a
  157  minimum:
  158         1. Describe in adequate detail how the parents will share
  159  and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the
  160  upbringing of the child;
  161         2. Include the time-sharing schedule arrangements that
  162  specify the time that the minor child will spend with each
  163  parent;
  164         3. Designate who will be responsible for:
  165         a. Any and all forms of health care. If the court orders
  166  shared parental responsibility over health care decisions, the
  167  parenting plan must provide that either parent may consent to
  168  mental health treatment for the child, unless stated otherwise
  169  in the parenting plan.
  170         b. School-related matters, including the address to be used
  171  for school-boundary determination and registration.
  172         c. Other activities; and
  173         4. Describe in adequate detail the methods and technologies
  174  that the parents will use to communicate with the child.
  175         Section 3. Subsection (4) is added to section 61.29,
  176  Florida Statutes, to read:
  177         61.29 Child support guidelines; principles.—The following
  178  principles establish the public policy of the State of Florida
  179  in the creation of the child support guidelines:
  180         (4) The guidelines do not apply to support for an
  181  incapacitated adult child as defined in s. 61.1255. The amount
  182  of support for an incapacitated adult child is determined by s.
  183  61.31.
  184         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  185  61.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  186         61.30 Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.—
  187         (1)(a) The child support guideline amount as determined by
  188  this section presumptively establishes the amount the trier of
  189  fact shall order as child support for a minor child or child who
  190  is dependent in fact, is between the ages of 18 and 19, is still
  191  in high school and is performing in good faith with a reasonable
  192  expectation of graduation before he or she reaches the age of 19
  193  in an initial proceeding for such support or in a proceeding for
  194  modification of an existing order for such support, whether the
  195  proceeding arises under this or another chapter. The trier of
  196  fact may order payment of child support which varies, plus or
  197  minus 5 percent, from the guideline amount, after considering
  198  all relevant factors, including the needs of the child or
  199  children, age, station in life, standard of living, and the
  200  financial status and ability of each parent. The trier of fact
  201  may order payment of child support in an amount which varies
  202  more than 5 percent from such guideline amount only upon a
  203  written finding explaining why ordering payment of such
  204  guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate.
  205  Notwithstanding the variance limitations of this section, the
  206  trier of fact shall order payment of child support which varies
  207  from the guideline amount as provided in paragraph (11)(b)
  208  whenever any of the children are required by court order or
  209  mediation agreement to spend a substantial amount of time with
  210  either parent. This requirement applies to any living
  211  arrangement, whether temporary or permanent.
  212         Section 5. Section 61.31, Florida Statutes, is created to
  213  read:
  214         61.31 Amount of support for incapacitated adult child.—
  215         (1)In determining the amount of support to be paid after
  216  an incapacitated adult child, as defined in s. 61.1255, reaches
  217  the age of 18, the specific terms and conditions of that
  218  support, and the rights and duties of both parents with respect
  219  to the support of the child, the court shall determine and give
  220  special consideration to all of the following:
  221         (a)The incapacitated adult child’s income and assets.
  222         (b)Any existing and future needs of the incapacitated
  223  adult child which are directly related to his or her mental or
  224  physical incapacity and the substantial care and personal
  225  supervision directly required by or related to that incapacity.
  226         (c)Whether a parent pays for or will pay for the care or
  227  supervision of the incapacitated adult child or provides or will
  228  provide such care or supervision himself or herself.
  229         (d)The financial resources available to each parent for
  230  the support, care, and supervision of the incapacitated adult
  231  child.
  232         (e)Any other financial resources or other resources or
  233  programs available for the support, care, and supervision of the
  234  incapacitated adult child.
  235         (2)The court may not order support in an amount that will
  236  negatively impact the incapacitated adult child’s eligibility
  237  for any state or federal programs or benefits.
  238         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection
  239  (3) of section 393.12, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  240         393.12 Capacity; appointment of guardian advocate.—
  241         (2) APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN ADVOCATE.—
  242         (b) A person who is being considered for appointment or is
  243  appointed as a guardian advocate does not need to not be
  244  represented by an attorney unless required by the court or if
  245  the guardian advocate is delegated any rights regarding property
  246  other than the right to be the representative payee for
  247  government benefits or the right of a parent to receive periodic
  248  payments from the other parent for support, care, maintenance,
  249  education, or other needs of the person with a developmental
  250  disability. This paragraph applies only to proceedings relating
  251  to the appointment of a guardian advocate and the court’s
  252  supervision of a guardian advocate and is not an exercise of the
  253  Legislature’s authority under pursuant to s. 2(a), Art. V of the
  254  State Constitution.
  255         (3) PETITION.—
  256         (a) A petition to appoint a guardian advocate for a person
  257  with a developmental disability may be executed by an adult
  258  person who is a resident of this state. The petition must be
  259  verified and must:
  260         1.(a) State the name, age, and present address of the
  261  petitioner and his or her relationship to the person with a
  262  developmental disability;
  263         2.(b) State the name, age, county of residence, and present
  264  address of the person with a developmental disability;
  265         3.(c) Allege that the petitioner believes that the person
  266  needs a guardian advocate and specify the factual information on
  267  which such belief is based;
  268         4.(d) Specify the exact areas in which the person lacks the
  269  decisionmaking ability to make informed decisions about his or
  270  her care and treatment services or to meet the essential
  271  requirements for his or her physical health or safety;
  272         5.(e) Specify the legal disabilities to which the person is
  273  subject; and
  274         6.(f) State the name of the proposed guardian advocate, the
  275  relationship of that person to the person with a developmental
  276  disability; the relationship that the proposed guardian advocate
  277  had or has with a provider of health care services, residential
  278  services, or other services to the person with a developmental
  279  disability; and the reason why this person should be appointed.
  280  If a willing and qualified guardian advocate cannot be located,
  281  the petition shall so state.
  282         (b)A petition to appoint a guardian advocate may include a
  283  request for periodic payments from either or both parents of the
  284  person with a developmental disability for his or her support,
  285  care, maintenance, education, or other needs of the person with
  286  a developmental disability.
  287         Section 7. Section 744.1013, Florida Statutes, is created
  288  to read:
  289         744.1013Jurisdiction.—The court has jurisdiction over all
  290  claims for support of an incapacitated adult child, as defined
  291  in s. 61.1255, and shall adjudicate the financial obligation,
  292  including health insurance, of the incapacitated adult child’s
  293  parents or guardian and enforce the financial obligation as
  294  provided in chapter 61. All support required to be paid in
  295  relation to an incapacitated adult child over the age of 18 must
  296  be paid to the incapacitated adult child or his or her court
  297  appointed guardian. The Department of Revenue shall enforce
  298  support orders entered under this chapter or chapter 393 in the
  299  same manner that it enforces child support orders under chapter
  300  61. Any order for support entered in a proceeding under this
  301  chapter or chapter 393 takes precedence over any support order
  302  entered under chapter 61.
  303         Section 8. Present subsection (3) of section 744.3201,
  304  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), and a new
  305  subsection (3) is added to that section, to read:
  306         744.3201 Petition to determine incapacity.—
  307         (3) A petition to determine capacity may include a request
  308  for payment of support, care, maintenance, education, or other
  309  needs of the alleged incapacitated adult child under s. 61.1255.
  310         Section 9. Section 744.422, Florida Statutes, is created to
  311  read:
  312         744.422Petition for child support for incapacitated adult
  313  child.—Pursuant to s. 61.1255, a guardian may petition the court
  314  for an order requiring either or both parents to pay periodic
  315  amounts for the support, care, maintenance, education, and other
  316  needs of an incapacitated adult child, if not otherwise provided
  317  for in the guardianship plan. The amount of support is
  318  determined by s. 61.31.
  319         Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 742.031, Florida
  320  Statutes, is amended to read:
  321         742.031 Hearings; court orders for support, hospital
  322  expenses, and attorney’s fee.—
  323         (1) Hearings for the purpose of establishing or refuting
  324  the allegations of the complaint and answer shall be held in the
  325  chambers and may be restricted to persons, in addition to the
  326  parties involved and their counsel, as the judge in his or her
  327  discretion may direct. The court shall determine the issues of
  328  paternity of the child and the ability of the parents to support
  329  the child. Each party’s social security number shall be recorded
  330  in the file containing the adjudication of paternity. If the
  331  court finds that the alleged father is the father of the child,
  332  it shall so order. If appropriate, the court shall order the
  333  father to pay the complainant, her guardian, or any other person
  334  assuming responsibility for the child moneys sufficient to pay
  335  reasonable attorney attorney’s fees, hospital or medical
  336  expenses, cost of confinement, and any other expenses incident
  337  to the birth of the child and to pay all costs of the
  338  proceeding. Bills for pregnancy, childbirth, and scientific
  339  testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party
  340  foundation testimony, and shall constitute prima facie evidence
  341  of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf
  342  of the child. The court shall order either or both parents owing
  343  a duty of support to the child to pay support under chapter 61
  344  pursuant to s. 61.30. The court shall issue, upon motion by a
  345  party, a temporary order requiring child support for a minor
  346  child under pursuant to s. 61.30 pending an administrative or
  347  judicial determination of parentage, if there is clear and
  348  convincing evidence of paternity on the basis of genetic tests
  349  or other evidence. The court may also make a determination of an
  350  appropriate parenting plan, including a time-sharing schedule,
  351  in accordance with chapter 61.
  352         Section 11. Section 742.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  353  read:
  354         742.06 Jurisdiction retained for future orders.—The court
  355  shall retain jurisdiction of the cause for the purpose of
  356  entering such other and further orders as changing circumstances
  357  of the parties may in justice and equity require. Modifications
  358  of child support and timesharing are determined under chapter
  359  61.
  360         Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 744.3021, Florida
  361  Statutes, is amended to read:
  362         744.3021 Guardians of minors.—
  363         (4) If a petition is filed under pursuant to this section
  364  requesting appointment of a guardian for a minor who is the
  365  subject of any proceeding under chapter 39 or chapter 61 and who
  366  is aged 17 years and 6 months or older, the court division with
  367  jurisdiction over guardianship matters has jurisdiction over the
  368  proceedings under s. 744.331. The alleged incapacitated minor
  369  under this subsection shall be provided all the due process
  370  rights conferred upon an alleged incapacitated adult under
  371  pursuant to this chapter and applicable court rules. The order
  372  of adjudication under s. 744.331 and the letters of limited or
  373  plenary guardianship may issue upon the minor’s 18th birthday or
  374  as soon thereafter as possible. Any proceeding pursuant to this
  375  subsection shall be conducted separately from any other
  376  proceeding.
  377         Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

feedback