New law could give people with dis­abil­ities guardianship pro­tec­tions

By Jeff Allen

ORLANDO, Fla. — A bill Florida lawmakers passed unanimously is aimed at giving people with disabilities more power when it comes to guardianships. House Bill 73 would allow people a legal framework to make their own decisions instead of being placed into a guardianship.

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What You Need To Know

• A bill Florida lawmakers passed unanimously is aimed at giving people with disabilities more power when it comes to guardianships


• House Bill 73 would allow people a legal framework to make their own decisions instead of being placed into a guardianship


• The measure would give people with disabilities who are of sound mind the chance to make their own decisions with the support of others, instead of letting one person make their decisions without them having a say in what those decisions are


• If it becomes law, it will take effect on July 1, 2024

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Michael Lincoln-Mccreight says he hopes the measure will help others avoid what he had to go through, an unwanted and unneeded guardianship.

McCreight has autism, and he says when he aged out of the foster care system, someone successfully petitioned for him to be placed into a guardianship. A guardianship allows someone to control of a person’s finances, making them in control of most aspects of that person’s life.

“Someone filed a guardianship without me even knowing they filed a guardianship, and I had doctors and attorneys showing up and first I was like what the heck is going on,” said McCreight.

McCreight says it was a struggle to get out of the guardianship.

“I had to hide in a closet, smuggle in a cell phone, call disability rights and then, once I got my rights back, I became the first person in Florida to get a term called 'Supported Decision-Making' recognized by the state,” said McCreight.

For several years, McCreight worked with lawmakers in Tallahassee to pass legislation. HB 73 would give people with disabilities who are of sound mind the chance to make their own decisions with the support of others, instead of letting one person make their decisions without them having a say in what those decisions are.

“It just brings more options for that individual to make his own decisions with the support of people they trust,” said McCreight.

Mccreight is now living the life he wants to live and he hopes his efforts will help others do the same.

“I’m hoping it avoids people going through what I went through,” said McCreight.

This measure passed both the Florida House and Senate unanimously, and is on its way to the Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for him to sign it into law.

If it becomes law, it will take effect on July 1, 2024.

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New law could give people with dis­abil­ities guardianship pro­tec­tions