Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1246
       
       
        
       By Senator Polsky
       
       
       
       
       
       30-01695A-24                                          20241246__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida State Psychiatric
    3         Hospital; creating s. 394.9088, F.S.; providing a
    4         short title; providing legislative findings and
    5         intent; establishing the Florida State Psychiatric
    6         Hospital in a specified location to provide
    7         specialized care for specified individuals; requiring
    8         the hospital to establish an admittance program for
    9         specified individuals; providing requirements for
   10         length of an individual’s stay; providing for funding;
   11         providing that the hospital and its admittance program
   12         operate in conjunction with specified laws; requiring
   13         a court to consider permanent placement under certain
   14         circumstances; providing for release protocols;
   15         prohibiting the program from being used for specified
   16         individuals; requiring the Department of Health, in
   17         conjunction with the Department of Children and
   18         Families, to jointly oversee the implementation and
   19         administration of the program; providing severability;
   20         providing an effective date.
   21          
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Section 394.9088, Florida Statutes, is created
   25  to read:
   26         394.9088 Florida State Psychiatric Hospital.—
   27         (1) This act may be cited as the “Florida State Psychiatric
   28  Hospital and Enhanced Admittance Programs Act.”
   29         (2)(a) The Legislature finds that it is essential to
   30  address and provide comprehensive treatment for emotionally or
   31  psychologically disturbed individuals who pose a threat to their
   32  communities and society, with a specific focus on combatting and
   33  deterring gun violence in this state.
   34         (b) The purpose of this act is to establish the Florida
   35  State Psychiatric Hospital which shall establish enhanced
   36  admittance programs to ensure the safety of communities, provide
   37  necessary long-term treatment for individuals who present a
   38  viable threat or danger, and serve as a model program for the
   39  potential expansion of psychiatric hospitals in other areas of
   40  the state.
   41         (3)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital is hereby
   42  established in Chattahoochee.
   43         (b) The hospital shall be equipped and staffed to provide
   44  specialized care and treatment for emotionally or
   45  psychologically disturbed individuals who pose a threat to their
   46  communities and society.
   47         (c) The hospital shall have a 600 bed, male and female
   48  statewide program that serves residents of the state.
   49         (4)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital shall
   50  establish an admittance program for individuals who, according
   51  to medical professionals’ assessments, pose a threat to their
   52  communities and society due to emotional or psychological
   53  disturbances.
   54         (b) The length of an individual’s stay in the hospital
   55  shall be determined by multiple health care practitioners and
   56  based on the individual’s condition and progress.
   57         (5) The program’s funding shall be derived from multiple
   58  sources, including an individual’s health insurance, state
   59  funds, and federal grants, when applicable.
   60         (6)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital and its
   61  admittance program shall operate in conjunction with the Baker
   62  Act, but shall offer extended treatment durations beyond a 24
   63  hour assessment period.
   64         (b) If extended treatment goes beyond 30 days, a court must
   65  consider permanent placement at the psychiatric hospital.
   66         (7)(a) Upon release, individuals admitted under this
   67  section are required to comply with protocols, including weekly
   68  mandatory medical visits and appointments.
   69         (b) Failure to comply with the prescribed protocols may
   70  result in readmittance to the Florida State Psychiatric
   71  Hospital.
   72         (8) The program may not be used for individuals with
   73  general psychological conditions or developmental disorders. The
   74  program is reserved exclusively for individuals who pose a
   75  viable threat or danger to their communities and society.
   76         (9) The Department of Health, in conjunction with the
   77  Department of Children and Families, shall jointly oversee the
   78  implementation and administration of the program.
   79         (10) If any provision of this act or its application to any
   80  person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not
   81  affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be
   82  given effect without the invalid provision or application.
   83         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.