US lawmakers propose bipartisan 'Free Britney' Act to crack down on conservatorship abuse

#FreeBritney activists protest at Los Angeles Grand Park during a conservatorship hearing for Britney Spears on June 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

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South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace and Florida Democrat Rep. Charlie Crist on Tuesday announced the bipartisan "Free Britney" Act, which aims to crack down on conservatorship abuse.

The act introduces a number of changes, including one that would allow individuals under a conservatorship the right to petition for a private guardian or conservator to be replaced with a public one without requiring they prove misconduct or abuse, according to the lawmakers.

The introduction of the Freedom and Right to Emancipate from Exploitation (FREE) Act on Tuesday comes as conservatorships have been catapulted into the spotlight following Britney Spears' highly publicized court battle to end her conservatorship of more than a decade.

"Abusive conservatorships can be an unending nightmare, and tragically we don't know how many people are being held captive against their will under the broken guardianship system, Crist said in a statement. "We do know, however, that we need federal safeguards to protect persons under guardianship from abuse and exploitation."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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