The Florida Senate

394.461  Designation of receiving and treatment facilities.--The department is authorized to designate and monitor receiving facilities and treatment facilities and may suspend or withdraw such designation for failure to comply with this part and rules adopted under this part. Unless designated by the department, facilities are not permitted to hold or treat involuntary patients under this part.

(1)  RECEIVING FACILITY.--The department may designate any community facility as a receiving facility. Any other facility within the state, including a private facility or a federal facility, may be so designated by the department, provided that such designation is agreed to by the governing body or authority of the facility.

(2)  TREATMENT FACILITY.--The department may designate any state-owned, state-operated, or state-supported facility as a state treatment facility. A civil patient shall not be admitted to a state treatment facility without previously undergoing a transfer evaluation. Before a court hearing for involuntary placement in a state treatment facility, the court shall receive and consider the information documented in the transfer evaluation. Any other facility, including a private facility or a federal facility, may be designated as a treatment facility by the department, provided that such designation is agreed to by the appropriate governing body or authority of the facility.

(3)  PRIVATE FACILITIES.--Private facilities designated as receiving and treatment facilities by the department may provide examination and treatment of involuntary patients, as well as voluntary patients, and are subject to all the provisions of this part.

(4)  RULES.--The department shall adopt rules relating to:

(a)  Procedures and criteria for receiving and evaluating facility applications for designation, which may include onsite facility inspection and evaluation of an applicant's licensing status and performance history, as well as consideration of local service needs.

(b)  Minimum standards consistent with this part that a facility must meet and maintain in order to be designated as a receiving or treatment facility and procedures for monitoring continued adherence to such standards.

(c)  Procedures for receiving complaints against a designated facility and for initiating inspections and investigations of facilities alleged to have violated the provisions of this part or rules adopted under this part.

(d)  Procedures and criteria for the suspension or withdrawal of designation.

History.--s. 6, ch. 71-131; s. 3, ch. 72-396; s. 5, ch. 73-133; s. 1, ch. 77-90; s. 203, ch. 77-147; s. 6, ch. 79-298; ss. 1, 2, ch. 80-384; s. 9, ch. 82-212; s. 7, ch. 84-285; s. 42, ch. 85-167; s. 707, ch. 95-148; s. 13, ch. 96-169.