HB 1045 2003
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to the Baker Act; amending s. 394.463,
3    F.S.; providing that a patient received in an emergency
4    department may be examined by an attending emergency
5    department physician rather than by a psychiatrist or
6    clinical psychologist; providing an effective date.
7         
8          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9         
10          Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section
11    394.463, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
12          394.463 Involuntary examination.--
13          (2) INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION.--
14          (f) A patient shall be examined by a physician or clinical
15    psychologist at a receiving facility without unnecessary delay
16    and may, upon the order of a physician, be given emergency
17    treatment if it is determined that such treatment is necessary
18    for the safety of the patient or others. The patient shall not
19    be released by the receiving facility or its contractor without
20    the documented approval of a psychiatrist,orclinical
21    psychologist, or, where the receiving facility is a hospital
22    emergency department, attending emergency department physician.
23    However, a patient may not be held in a receiving facility for
24    involuntary examination longer than 72 hours.
25          Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.