Guardianship Improvement Task Force holds first meeting; launches public website

The Guardianship Improvement Task Force, chaired by the Honorable Ken Burke, CPA (Pinellas), held its first meeting on Thursday, July 22, after its originally scheduled initial meeting on July 7 was postponed due to Tropical Storm Elsa.

Last week’s meeting of the Task Force, held virtually via WebEx and livestreamed on YouTube, allowed each member the opportunity to introduce themselves and share any concerns related to guardianships in Florida and their goals for the Task Force. The Task Force also approved a set of guidelines that will help guide the work of the body in the coming months and voted to add one additional member, an individual who has prior experience as a ward in Florida.

Before the start of Thursday’s meeting, the Task Force also announced the launch of a website - http://guardianshipimprovementtaskforce.com - which will serve as a permanent resource for both the Task Force and the public. If you were unable to watch Thursday’s meeting, this website will serve as a repository of prior Task Force meetings and includes a link to last week’s meeting.

The second meeting of the Task Force will be held in person this Wednesday, July 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., EDT, at the Epicenter at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida. This meeting will allow Task Force members to receive the presentations that were originally planned for July 7, including an overview of the Guardianship process in Florida and Guardianship from both a Judge’s and Clerk’s perspective. There will also be an opportunity to receive public comment and discuss the remaining meeting schedule for the months of August and September.

A live stream of the meeting will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m., EDT, on Wednesday, and can be accessed here. Those Clerks and Comptrollers who would rather participate in the WebEx directly may do so by clicking here.

Further details and agendas for each meeting will be sent out via media advisories in advance. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Sara Sanders Bremer.