HB 569 — Forensic Client Services
by Reps. Chaney, Maney, and others (SB 778 by Senator Simon)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
The bill amends the definition of "forensic client" to include individuals involuntarily committed to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) that have had their charges dismissed due to intellectual disability or autism.
Florida law requires the APD to house non-forensic clients and forensic clients separately in APD facilities, despite these populations often requiring the same level of need and care. The bill considers the following populations as forensic clients, effectively allowing the APD to house these populations in the same ward in an APD-operated, secure, state treatment facility:
- Felony defendants adjudicated incompetent to proceed in a criminal proceeding due to mental illness.
- Defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity.
- Felony defendants adjudicated incompetent to proceed due to intellectual disability or autism.
- Defendants that have had their charges dismissed due to their incompetency to proceed due to intellectual disability or autism.
These provisions became law upon approval by the Governor on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 109-0