Florida Senate - 2024 SB 330
By Senator Boyd
20-01289B-24 2024330__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to behavioral health teaching
3 hospitals; creating part VI of ch. 395, F.S., entitled
4 “Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals”; creating s.
5 395.901, F.S.; defining the terms “agency” and
6 “behavioral health teaching hospital”; providing
7 legislative findings and intent; creating s. 395.902,
8 F.S.; specifying the manner in which hospitals may
9 seek designation as a behavioral health teaching
10 hospital; specifying criteria that a hospital must
11 meet to receive such designation; amending s. 1004.44,
12 F.S.; establishing the Florida Center for Behavioral
13 Health Workforce within the Louis de la Parte Florida
14 Mental Health Institute for a specified purpose;
15 specifying the primary goals of the center; requiring
16 the center to establish and maintain a database on the
17 supply and demand of behavioral health professionals
18 in this state for a specified purpose; authorizing the
19 center to request, and requiring certain boards to
20 provide, certain information regarding behavioral
21 health professionals licensed or practicing in this
22 state; requiring the center to submit an annual report
23 of certain information to the Governor and the
24 Legislature; establishing the Florida Behavioral
25 Health Professions Scholarship and Grants Program,
26 subject to an appropriation, to be administered by the
27 center; providing purposes of the program; specifying
28 the center’s duties in administering the program;
29 requiring the center, in collaboration with the Board
30 of Governors and the State Board of Education, to
31 identify certain indicators for measuring progress and
32 performance of the educational programs at designated
33 behavioral health teaching hospitals in this state;
34 requiring the center to provide an annual report to
35 the Governor, the Legislature, the Chancellor of the
36 State University System, and the Commissioner of
37 Education; providing requirements for the report;
38 requiring the center, in collaboration with the Board
39 of Governors, the State Board of Education, and other
40 stakeholders, to submit statutory and budget
41 recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by
42 a specified date each year; requiring the Board of
43 Governors and the State Board of Education, in
44 consultation with the center, to adopt any necessary
45 regulations and rules in an expeditious manner;
46 requiring the Department of Children and Families, in
47 coordination with the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental
48 Health Institute, to contract for a two-part study of
49 the state’s behavioral health system; specifying
50 requirements for the study; providing effective dates.
51
52 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
53
54 Section 1. Part VI of chapter 395, Florida Statutes,
55 consisting of ss. 395.901 and 395.902, Florida Statutes, is
56 created and entitled “Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals.”
57 Section 2. Section 395.901, Florida Statutes, is created to
58 read:
59 395.901 Behavioral health teaching hospitals.—
60 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this part, the term:
61 (a) “Agency” means the Agency for Health Care
62 Administration.
63 (b) “Behavioral health teaching hospital” means a
64 community-based hospital licensed under this chapter which has
65 partnered with a university school of medicine and offers
66 integrated behavioral health education as specified in s.
67 395.902.
68 (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
69 (a) The Legislature finds that there is a critical shortage
70 of behavioral health professionals and recognizes the urgent
71 need to expand the existing behavioral health workforce, prepare
72 for an aging workforce, incentivize entry into behavioral health
73 professions, and train a modernized workforce in innovative
74 integrated care.
75 (b) The Legislature finds there is a specific need to
76 support a behavioral health education system that not only
77 trains the next generation of professionals in innovative and
78 integrated care for those with behavioral health needs, but also
79 works to modernize the state’s overall behavioral health system
80 of care.
81 (c) Therefore, the Legislature intends to identify and
82 designate multiple behavioral health teaching hospitals that
83 work to provide the necessary research, education, and services
84 to not only enhance this state’s behavioral health workforce,
85 but to make that workforce and system of care the national
86 standard. The Legislature intends to partner with the University
87 of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital to establish a pilot
88 designated behavioral health teaching hospital to develop and
89 implement a statewide model, and further intends to create the
90 Behavioral Health Workforce Center within the university’s Louis
91 de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute to address issues of
92 workforce supply and demand in behavioral health professions,
93 including issues of recruitment, retention, and workforce
94 resources.
95 (d) The Legislature intends for designated behavioral
96 health teaching hospitals to:
97 1. Focus on state-of-the-art behavioral health research.
98 2. Provide leading-edge education and training for this
99 state’s behavioral health workforce in innovative and integrated
100 care.
101 3. Collaborate with other college and university schools of
102 nursing, psychology, social work, pharmacy, public health, and
103 other relevant disciplines to promote and enhance a modernized
104 behavioral health system of care.
105 4. Develop, implement, and promote public-private
106 partnerships throughout this state to support and enhance the
107 intent of this part.
108 5. Provide inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care
109 and support the state in providing treatment and care for those
110 whose need and acuity has resulted in the need for long-term
111 voluntary or involuntary civil commitment.
112 Section 3. Section 395.902, Florida Statutes, is created to
113 read:
114 395.902 Designated behavioral health teaching hospitals.—
115 (1) A hospital that partners with a university school of
116 medicine may seek designation as a behavioral health teaching
117 hospital by submitting an application and required documentation
118 to the agency in a manner determined by the agency.
119 (2) To be designated as a behavioral health teaching
120 hospital, a hospital must meet all of the following criteria:
121 (a) Offer a psychiatric residency program accredited
122 through the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation
123 Council of Graduate Medical Education.
124 (b) Offer a postdoctoral clinical psychology fellowship
125 program accredited by the American Psychological Association.
126 (c) Develop and maintain a consultation agreement with the
127 Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute as established
128 in s. 1004.44, including with the Florida Center for Behavioral
129 Health Workforce.
130 (d) As part of its partnership with a university school of
131 medicine, develop a plan that meets all of the following
132 criteria:
133 1. Promotes a coordinated system of care which offers
134 inpatient and outpatient treatment and services for individuals
135 with behavioral health needs, including, but not limited to,
136 prevention, community inpatient care, crisis stabilization,
137 short-term residential treatment, screening, therapeutic and
138 supportive services, and long-term care.
139 2. Develops and offers integrated workforce development
140 programs, including, but not limited to, practicums and
141 internships for clinical and nonclinical behavioral and physical
142 health professions.
143 3. Coordinates and promotes innovative partnerships that
144 integrate colleges and schools of nursing, psychology, social
145 work, pharmacy, public health, and other relevant disciplines
146 with existing local and regional programs, clinics, and
147 resources.
148 Section 4. Subsections (6), (7), and (8) are added to
149 section 1004.44, Florida Statutes, to read:
150 1004.44 Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.
151 There is established the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health
152 Institute within the University of South Florida.
153 (6)(a) There is established, within the institute, the
154 Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce to address issues
155 of workforce supply and demand in behavioral health professions,
156 including issues of recruitment, retention, and workforce
157 resources.
158 (b) The primary goals for the center are to:
159 1. Develop a strategic statewide plan for the behavioral
160 health workforce in this state by:
161 a. Conducting a statistically valid biennial data-driven
162 analysis of the supply and demand of the behavioral health
163 workforce. To achieve such goal, the center must:
164 (I) Establish and maintain a database on the supply and
165 demand of behavioral health professionals in this state, to
166 include current supply and demand; and
167 (II) Analyze the current and future supply and demand in
168 the state.
169 b. Developing recommendations and strategies to increase
170 behavioral health faculty and educational supervision, support
171 behavioral health faculty development, and promote advanced
172 behavioral health education.
173 c. Developing best practices in the academic preparation
174 and continuing education needs of qualified behavioral health
175 educators.
176 d. Collecting data on behavioral health faculty,
177 employment, distribution, and retention.
178 e. Piloting innovative projects to support the recruitment,
179 development, and retention of qualified behavioral health
180 faculty and clinical preceptors.
181 f. Encouraging and coordinating the development of
182 academic-practice partnerships, to support behavioral health
183 faculty employment and advancement.
184 g. Developing distance learning infrastructure for
185 behavioral health education and advancing faculty competencies
186 in the pedagogy of teaching and the evidence-based use of
187 technology, simulation, and distance learning techniques.
188 2. Enhance and promote behavioral health professionals in
189 this state by developing and promoting:
190 a. Behavioral health excellence programs;
191 b. Reward, recognition, and renewal activities; and
192 c. Media and image-building efforts.
193 3. Convene various groups representative of behavioral
194 health professions, other health care providers, business and
195 industry, consumers, lawmakers, and educators to:
196 a. Review and comment on data analysis prepared for the
197 center;
198 b. Recommend systemic changes, including strategies for
199 implementation of recommended changes; and
200 c. Evaluate and report the results of these efforts to the
201 Legislature and other entities.
202 (c) The center may request from any board as defined in s.
203 456.001, and the board must provide to the center upon its
204 request, any information held by the board regarding a
205 behavioral health professional licensed in this state or holding
206 a multistate license pursuant to a professional multistate
207 licensure compact or information reported to the board by
208 employers of such behavioral health professionals, other than
209 personal identifying information.
210 (d) By January 10 of each year, the center shall submit a
211 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
212 Speaker of the House of Representatives providing details of its
213 activities during the preceding calendar year in pursuit of its
214 goals and in the execution of its duties under paragraph (b).
215 (7)(a) There is established a Florida Behavioral Health
216 Professions Scholarship and Grants Program, subject to an
217 appropriation by the Legislature, to be administered by the
218 Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce. The purpose of
219 the program is to provide scholarships to students enrolled in
220 educational programs, including practicums, internships, and
221 rotations, at designated behavioral health teaching hospitals in
222 this state and provide grants to support establishment of such
223 educational programs.
224 (b) The center must, at a minimum, do all of the following
225 to administer the Florida Behavioral Health Professions
226 Scholarship and Grants Program:
227 1. Coordinate, facilitate, and oversee statewide
228 implementation of the Florida Behavioral Health Professions
229 Scholarship and Grants Program.
230 2. Consult and collaborate with designated behavioral
231 health teaching hospitals and affiliated universities to
232 identify eligible educational programs to offer the scholarship
233 program.
234 3. Establish requirements, timelines, and processes for
235 eligibility and application for scholarships and grants.
236 4. Administer scholarship funds. The annual amount of the
237 scholarship to be provided to an eligible student must be the
238 amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.
239 5. Administer grant funds. The grants must be used for the
240 implementation and operation of educational programs, including
241 practicums, internships, and rotations, at designated behavioral
242 health teaching hospitals in this state. Funds appropriated to
243 the center may be used for such grants only as specifically
244 authorized in the General Appropriations Act.
245 6. Report on the implementation and administration of this
246 subsection by planning, advising, and evaluating approved degree
247 and certificate programs and the performance of students and
248 programs pursuant to paragraph (c).
249 (c)1. The center, in collaboration with the Board of
250 Governors and the State Board of Education, shall identify
251 indicators for the satisfactory progress of students enrolled in
252 educational programs, including practicums, internships, and
253 rotations, at designated behavioral health teaching hospitals in
254 this state and for the performance of such programs.
255 2. By October 1, 2025, and each year thereafter, the center
256 shall provide to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
257 Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chancellor of the
258 State University System, and the Commissioner of Education a
259 report summarizing, at a minimum, the status of the statewide
260 coordination and implementation of educational programs,
261 including practicums, internships, and rotations, at designated
262 behavioral health teaching hospitals in this state and the
263 Florida Behavioral Health Professions Scholarships and Grants
264 Program, including, but not limited to, the:
265 a. Number of applications approved and denied and the
266 reasons for each denial.
267 b. Number and value of all scholarships awarded to
268 students.
269 c. Projected number of students who may be eligible to
270 enroll in educational programs, including practicums,
271 internships, and rotations, at designated behavioral health
272 teaching hospitals in this state within the next academic year.
273 3. The center, in collaboration with the Board of
274 Governors, the State Board of Education, and other stakeholders,
275 by December 1 of each year, shall submit to the Governor, the
276 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
277 Representatives statutory and budget recommendations for
278 improving the implementation and delivery of scholarships and
279 grants.
280 (8) The Board of Governors and the State Board of
281 Education, in consultation with the center, shall expeditiously
282 adopt any necessary regulations and rules, as applicable, to
283 allow the center to perform its responsibilities under
284 subsections (6) and (7) beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
285 Section 5. Effective upon this act becoming a law, the
286 Department of Children and Families, in coordination with the
287 Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, must contract
288 for a two-part study of Florida’s behavioral health system.
289 (1) The first part of the study must be a study of
290 Florida’s behavioral health system in general, including, but
291 not limited to, all of the following:
292 (a) An analysis of Florida’s behavioral health workforce
293 and behavioral health education and training.
294 (b) An evaluation of how to best promote, integrate, and
295 incentivize the establishment of behavioral health teaching
296 hospitals, as detailed in this act.
297 (c) Policy recommendations for recruiting, training, and
298 retaining an integrated behavioral health workforce.
299 (2) The second part of the study must be a detailed
300 analysis of Florida’s involuntary commitment system, including,
301 but not limited to, all of the following:
302 (a) Involuntary commitment bed capacity, in both forensic
303 and civil involuntary commitment settings.
304 (b) Involuntary commitment policies and processes.
305 (c) Policy recommendations for ensuring sufficient
306 involuntary commitment bed capacity.
307 (d) An evaluation of maintaining civil commitment beds as a
308 requirement for designation as a behavioral health teaching
309 hospital, to include potential costs related to capital outlay,
310 enhanced bed rate, and staffing requirements.
311 (e) Recommendations for promoting coordination between
312 Florida’s involuntary commitment system, behavioral health
313 teaching hospitals, and other integrated health programs.
314 Section 6. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
315 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
316 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
317 2024.