Better data collection about guardianships in Florida and better information for the public about guardianships and alternatives are among the final recommendations of the Guardianship Improvement Task Force.

The task force, created by the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, at its final meeting on September 23 also called for a closer look at how hospitals and nursing homes pursue guardianships for patients, providing all circuits with a way to allow judges to order an independent investigation of a guardianship, using supportive decisionmaking as an alternative to guardianships, and setting up a public statewide database on professional guardians that would include the number of cases they handle and disciplinary history.

And acknowledging that it only scratched the surface of guardianship issues, the task force recommended the Legislature set up a successor committee or task force that, if not permanent, would at least continue for several years to advise lawmakers on further reforms.