The Florida Senate

414.0655  Medical incapacity due to substance abuse or mental health impairment.--

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 414.065 to the contrary, any participant who requires out-of-home residential treatment for alcoholism, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or a mental health disorder, as certified by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, shall be exempted from work activities while participating in treatment. The participant shall be required to comply with the course of treatment necessary for the individual to resume work activity participation. The treatment agency shall be required to notify the department with an initial estimate of when the participant will have completed the course of treatment and be ready to resume full participation in the WAGES program. If the treatment will take longer than 60 days, the treatment agency shall provide to the department the conditions justifying extended treatment, and the department and the treatment agency shall negotiate a continued stay in treatment not to exceed an additional 90 days.

(2)  Notwithstanding any provision of s. 414.095(2)(a)4. or 5. to the contrary, a participant who is absent from the home due to out-of-home residential treatment for not more than 150 days shall continue to be a member of the assistance group whether or not the child or children for whom the participant is the parent or caretaker relative are living in the residential treatment center.

History.--s. 11, ch. 99-241.