Florida Administrative Code
58 - DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS
58M - Office of Public and Professional Guardians
Chapter 58M-2 - GUARDIANSHIP
Section 58M-2.011 - Disciplinary Action and Guidelines

(1) Purpose. Pursuant to Section 744.20041, F.S., the Office of Public and Professional Guardians provides disciplinary guidelines in this rule for applicants or guardians over whom it has oversight. The purpose of this rule is to notify applicants and guardians of the range of penalties which will routinely be imposed, unless the Office of Public and Professional Guardians finds it necessary to deviate from the guidelines for the stated reasons given in this rule. The range of penalties are based upon a single count violation of each provision listed. Multiple counts of the violated provisions or a combination of the violations may result in a higher penalty. Each range includes the lowest and highest penalties that may be imposed for that violation. For applicants, all offenses listed in the Disciplinary Guidelines are sufficient for refusal to certify an application for registration. The Office of Public and Professional Guardians may find it necessary to deviate from the guidelines for the reasons stated in subsection (3), of this rule.

(2) Violations and Range of Penalties. In imposing discipline upon applicants and guardians, the Office of Public and Professional Guardians shall act in accordance with guidelines and shall impose a penalty within a range corresponding to the violations set forth in form DOEA/OPPG Form 003, Office of Public and Professional Guardians Disciplinary Guidelines (February 2017), incorporated herein by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07914, unless the Office of Public and Professional Guardians finds it necessary to deviate from the guidelines for the stated reasons given in subsection (3), of this rule.

(3) The Office of Public and Professional Guardians shall take into consideration the danger to the public; the number of repetitions of offenses; the length of time since the date(s) of violation; the number of disciplinary actions taken against the guardian; the length of time the guardian has practiced; the actual damage, physical or otherwise, to the ward; the deterrent effect of the penalty imposed; any efforts for rehabilitation; and any other mitigating or aggravating circumstances in determining the appropriate disciplinary action to be imposed.