The Florida Senate

“Agency” means the Agency for Health Care Administration.

“Client” means any individual receiving services in any substance abuse or mental health facility, program, or service, which facility, program, or service is operated, funded, or regulated by the agency and the department or regulated by the agency.

“Crisis services” means short-term evaluation, stabilization, and brief intervention services provided to a person who is experiencing an acute mental or emotional crisis, as defined in subsection (17), or an acute substance abuse crisis, as defined in subsection (18), to prevent further deterioration of the person’s mental health. Crisis services are provided in settings such as a crisis stabilization unit, an inpatient unit, a short-term residential treatment program, a detoxification facility, or an addictions receiving facility; at the site of the crisis by a mobile crisis response team; or at a hospital on an outpatient basis.

“Crisis stabilization unit” means a program that provides an alternative to inpatient hospitalization and that provides brief, intensive services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for mentally ill individuals who are in an acutely disturbed state.

“Department” means the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Director” means any member of the official board of directors reported in the organization’s annual corporate report to the Florida Department of State, or, if no such report is made, any member of the operating board of directors. The term excludes members of separate, restricted boards that serve only in an advisory capacity to the operating board.

“District administrator” means the person appointed by the Secretary of Children and Family Services for the purpose of administering a department service district as set forth in s. 20.19.

“District plan” or “plan” means the combined district substance abuse and mental health plan approved by the district administrator and governing bodies in accordance with this part.

“Federal funds” means funds from federal sources for substance abuse or mental health facilities and programs, exclusive of federal funds that are deemed eligible by the Federal Government, and are eligible through state regulation, for matching purposes.

“Governing body” means the chief legislative body of a county, a board of county commissioners, or boards of county commissioners in counties acting jointly, or their counterparts in a charter government.

¹“Health and human services board” or “board” means the board within a district or subdistrict of the department which is established in accordance with s. 20.19 and designated in this part for the purpose of assessing the substance abuse and mental health needs of the community and developing a plan to address those needs.

“Licensed facility” means a facility licensed in accordance with this chapter.

“Local matching funds” means funds received from governing bodies of local government, including city commissions, county commissions, district school boards, special tax districts, private hospital funds, private gifts, both individual and corporate, and bequests and funds received from community drives or any other sources.

“Managing employee” means the administrator or other similarly titled individual who is responsible for the daily operation of the facility.

“Mental health services” means those therapeutic interventions and activities that help to eliminate, reduce, or manage symptoms or distress for persons who have severe emotional distress or a mental illness and to effectively manage the disability that often accompanies a mental illness so that the person can recover from the mental illness, become appropriately self-sufficient for his or her age, and live in a stable family or in the community. The term also includes those preventive interventions and activities that reduce the risk for or delay the onset of mental disorders. The term includes the following types of services:

Mental health services may be delivered in a variety of settings, such as inpatient, residential, partial hospital, day treatment, outpatient, club house, or a drop-in or self-help center, as well as in other community settings, such as the client’s residence or workplace. The types and intensity of services provided shall be based on the client’s clinical status and goals, community resources, and preferences. Services such as assertive community treatment involve all four types of services which are delivered by a multidisciplinary treatment team that is responsible for identified individuals who have a serious mental illness.

“Patient fees” means compensation received by a community substance abuse or mental health facility for services rendered to a specific client from any source of funds, including city, county, state, federal, and private sources.

“Person who is experiencing an acute mental or emotional crisis” means a child, adolescent, or adult who is experiencing a psychotic episode or a high level of mental or emotional distress which may be precipitated by a traumatic event or a perceived life problem for which the individual’s typical coping strategies are inadequate. The term includes an individual who meets the criteria for involuntary examination specified in s. 394.463(1).

“Person who is experiencing an acute substance abuse crisis” means a child, adolescent, or adult who is experiencing a medical or emotional crisis because of the use of alcoholic beverages or any psychoactive or mood-altering substance. The term includes an individual who meets the criteria for involuntary admission specified in s. 397.675.

“Premises” means those buildings, beds, and facilities located at the main address of the licensee and all other buildings, beds, and facilities for the provision of acute or residential care which are located in such reasonable proximity to the main address of the licensee as to appear to the public to be under the dominion and control of the licensee.

“Program office” means the Mental Health Program Office of the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Residential treatment center for children and adolescents” means a 24-hour residential program, including a therapeutic group home, which provides mental health services to emotionally disturbed children or adolescents as defined in s. 394.492(5) or (6) and which is a private for-profit or not-for-profit corporation licensed by the agency which offers a variety of treatment modalities in a more restrictive setting.

“Residential treatment facility” means a facility providing residential care and treatment to individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness who are in need of a 24-hour-per-day, 7-day-a-week structured living environment, respite care, or long-term community placement.

“Sliding fee scale” means a schedule of fees for identified services delivered by a service provider which are based on a uniform schedule of discounts deducted from the service provider’s usual and customary charges. These charges must be consistent with the prevailing market rates in the community for comparable services.

“Substance abuse services” means services designed to prevent or remediate the consequences of substance abuse, improve an individual’s quality of life and self-sufficiency, and support long-term recovery. The term includes the following service categories: