Subcommittee advances bill letting judges weigh guardianship when prospective guardians have felony records

Representative Rizzo presented HB 737 (sponsored by Representative Botana) as a measure to change the default bar on appointment of guardians with prior felony convictions when a child reaches age 18, and to give presiding judges discretion to evaluate guardianship on a case-by-case basis.

Explaining an amendment (barcode 269061), Representative Rizzo said the change “requires that at least 10 years must have elapsed since the person has completed their sentence before they can be appointed as a guardian,” and noted the court would be able to require certified copies of records related to the underlying felony and that a guardian could be removed for a felony conviction occurring after appointment.

There was no public testimony against the amendment or the bill; Barney Bishop of the Florida Smart Justice Alliance waived in support. Representative Rizzo waived closing remarks. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to report HB 737 favorably; the clerk announced the final tally as 17 yays, 0 nays.

The subcommittee’s action forwards HB 737 to the next committee with the amendment in place; no further debate or dissent was recorded during the hearing.