Florida Senate - 2025                             CS for SB 1620
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
       Senator Rouson
       
       
       
       
       586-02858-25                                          20251620c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to mental health and substance use
    3         disorders; amending s. 394.455, F.S.; defining the
    4         term “person-first language”; amending s. 394.457,
    5         F.S.; revising the minimum standards for a mobile
    6         crisis response service; amending s. 394.459, F.S.;
    7         requiring that an individualized treatment plan be
    8         reevaluated within a specified timeframe to ensure the
    9         recommended care remains necessary for a patient;
   10         amending s. 394.468, F.S.; requiring the Department of
   11         Children and Families to review and evaluate the
   12         discharge procedures and policies for all receiving
   13         facilities; specifying the criteria of such
   14         evaluations; requiring the department, in
   15         collaboration with the Agency for Health Care
   16         Administration, to report its findings to the Governor
   17         and the Legislature by a specified date; specifying
   18         what must be included in such report; amending s.
   19         394.495, F.S.; requiring the department to reevaluate
   20         assessment services at specified intervals to ensure a
   21         patient’s clinical needs are being met; revising such
   22         assessment services’ evaluations and screening areas;
   23         amending s. 394.659, F.S.; requiring the Criminal
   24         Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical
   25         Assistance Center at the Louis de la Parte Florida
   26         Mental Health Institute at the University of South
   27         Florida to disseminate certain evidence-based
   28         practices and best practices among grantees; amending
   29         s. 394.875, F.S.; requiring the Department of Children
   30         and Families, in consultation with the Agency for
   31         Health Care Administration, to conduct a review every
   32         other year to identify certain counties that require
   33         additional resources for short-term residential
   34         treatment facilities; requiring the agency to
   35         prioritize specified facilities in issuing licenses;
   36         amending s. 394.9086, F.S.; revising the duties of the
   37         Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use
   38         Disorder; amending s. 1004.44, F.S.; revising the
   39         requirements of the Florida Center for Behavioral
   40         Health Workforce to promote behavioral health
   41         professions; creating the Center for Substance Abuse
   42         and Mental Health Research within the institute;
   43         specifying the purpose of the center; specifying the
   44         goals of the center; specifying the responsibilities
   45         of the center; requiring the center to submit a report
   46         by a specified date each year to the Governor and the
   47         Legislature; specifying the contents of the report;
   48         amending s. 1006.041, F.S.; revising the plan
   49         components for mental health assistance programs;
   50         requiring the Department of Children and Families, in
   51         consultation with the Department of Education, to
   52         conduct a review every other year to identify
   53         effective models of school-based behavioral health
   54         access; requiring the Department of Children and
   55         Families to submit its findings to the Governor and
   56         the Legislature by a specified date every other year;
   57         amending s. 394.9085, F.S.; conforming a cross
   58         reference; reenacting s. 394.463(2)(g), F.S., relating
   59         to involuntary examination, to incorporate the
   60         amendment made to s. 394.468, F.S., in a reference
   61         thereto; reenacting s. 394.4955(2)(c) and (6), F.S.,
   62         relating to coordinated system of care and child and
   63         adolescent mental health treatment and support, to
   64         incorporate the amendment made to s. 394.495, F.S., in
   65         references thereto; reenacting s. 1001.212(7), F.S.,
   66         relating to the Office of Safe Schools, to incorporate
   67         the amendment made to s. 1004.44, F.S., in a reference
   68         thereto; providing an effective date.
   69          
   70  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   71  
   72         Section 1. Present subsections (33) through (50) of section
   73  394.455, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (34)
   74  through (51), respectively, and a new subsection (33) is added
   75  to that section, to read:
   76         394.455 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
   77         (33) “Person-first language” means language used in a
   78  professional medical setting which emphasizes the patient as a
   79  person rather than his or her disability or illness.
   80         Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
   81  394.457, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   82         394.457 Operation and administration.—
   83         (5) RULES.—
   84         (c) The department shall adopt rules establishing minimum
   85  standards for services provided by a mental health overlay
   86  program or a mobile crisis response service. Minimum standards
   87  for a mobile crisis response service must:
   88         1. Include the requirements of the child, adolescent, and
   89  young adult mobile response teams established under s.
   90  394.495(7) and ensure coverage of all counties by these
   91  specified teams; and
   92         2. Ensure access to mobile response services for persons 65
   93  years of age or older; and
   94         3. Create a structure for general mobile response teams
   95  which focuses on crisis diversion and the reduction of
   96  involuntary commitment under this chapter. The structure must
   97  require, but need not be limited to, the following:
   98         a. Triage and rapid crisis intervention within 60 minutes;
   99         b. Provision of and referral to evidence-based services
  100  that are responsive to the needs of the individual and the
  101  individual’s family;
  102         c. Screening, assessment, early identification, and care
  103  coordination; and
  104         d. Sharing of best practices with medical professionals,
  105  including the use of person-first language and trauma-responsive
  106  care, to improve patient experiences and outcomes and encourage
  107  cooperative engagement from patients seeking treatment; and
  108         e. Confirmation that the individual who received the mobile
  109  crisis response was connected to a service provider and
  110  prescribed medications, if needed.
  111         Section 3. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
  112  394.459, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  113         394.459 Rights of patients.—
  114         (2) RIGHT TO TREATMENT.—
  115         (e) Not more than 5 days after admission to a facility,
  116  each patient must shall have and receive an individualized
  117  treatment plan in writing which the patient has had an
  118  opportunity to assist in preparing and to review before prior to
  119  its implementation. The plan must shall include a space for the
  120  patient’s comments. An individualized treatment plan must be
  121  reevaluated no less than every 6 months to ensure the treatment
  122  plan’s recommended care remains necessary for the patient.
  123         Section 4. Subsection (4) is added to section 394.468,
  124  Florida Statutes, to read:
  125         394.468 Admission and discharge procedures.—
  126         (4)The department shall review the discharge procedure for
  127  all receiving facilities and evaluate current policy,
  128  strategies, and actions taken to meet the need for access to
  129  prescribed behavioral health medications at discharge. The
  130  evaluation shall include data related to medication adherence
  131  and readmission rates of discharged patients. The department
  132  shall, in collaboration with the Agency for Health Care
  133  Administration, report its findings from the evaluation and
  134  provide actionable policy recommendations and cost estimates to
  135  increase medication adherence of patients after discharge,
  136  increase access to prescribed behavioral health medications for
  137  uninsured and underinsured patients at discharge, and increase
  138  the use of long-acting injectables as a discharge medication.
  139  The report must be submitted to the Governor, the President of
  140  the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
  141  December 31, 2025.
  142         Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 394.495, Florida
  143  Statutes, is amended to read:
  144         394.495 Child and adolescent mental health system of care;
  145  programs and services.—
  146         (2) The array of services must include assessment services
  147  that provide a professional interpretation of the nature of the
  148  problems of the child or adolescent and his or her family;
  149  family issues that may impact the problems; additional factors
  150  that contribute to the problems; and the assets, strengths, and
  151  resources of the child or adolescent and his or her family. The
  152  assessment services to be provided must shall be determined by
  153  the clinical needs of each child or adolescent. The department
  154  shall reevaluate the services no less than every 6 months to
  155  ensure the child’s clinical needs are being met. Assessment
  156  services include, but are not limited to, evaluation and
  157  screening in the following areas:
  158         (a) Physical and mental health for purposes of identifying
  159  medical and psychiatric problems.
  160         (b) Psychological functioning, as determined through a
  161  battery of psychological tests.
  162         (c) Intelligence and academic achievement.
  163         (d) Social and behavioral functioning.
  164         (e) Family functioning.
  165         (f) Functional daily living through the implementation of
  166  the Daily Living Activities-20 functional assessment tool as
  167  described in s. 1006.041(2)(b).
  168  
  169  The assessment for academic achievement is the financial
  170  responsibility of the school district. The department shall
  171  cooperate with other state agencies and the school district to
  172  avoid duplicating assessment services.
  173         Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
  174  394.659, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  175         394.659 Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance
  176  Abuse Technical Assistance Center.—
  177         (1) There is created a Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and
  178  Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center at the Louis de la
  179  Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South
  180  Florida, which shall:
  181         (d) Disseminate and share evidence-based practices and best
  182  practices among grantees, including, but not limited to, the use
  183  of person-first language and trauma-responsive care, to improve
  184  patient experiences and outcomes and encourage cooperative
  185  engagement for patients seeking treatment.
  186         Section 7. Subsection (11) is added to section 394.875,
  187  Florida Statutes, and paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and
  188  paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of that section are republished,
  189  to read:
  190         394.875 Crisis stabilization units, residential treatment
  191  facilities, and residential treatment centers for children and
  192  adolescents; authorized services; license required.—
  193         (1)
  194         (c) The purpose of a residential treatment center for
  195  children and adolescents is to provide mental health assessment
  196  and treatment services pursuant to ss. 394.491, 394.495, and
  197  394.496 to children and adolescents who meet the target
  198  population criteria specified in s. 394.493(1)(a), (b), or (c).
  199         (8)(a) The department, in consultation with the agency,
  200  must adopt rules governing a residential treatment center for
  201  children and adolescents which specify licensure standards for:
  202  admission; length of stay; program and staffing; discharge and
  203  discharge planning; treatment planning; seclusion, restraints,
  204  and time-out; rights of patients under s. 394.459; use of
  205  psychotropic medications; and standards for the operation of
  206  such centers.
  207         (11) The department, in consultation with the agency, shall
  208  conduct a review every other year to identify counties that
  209  require additional resources for short-term residential
  210  treatment facilities. The agency shall give priority in issuing
  211  licenses to short-term residential treatment facilities located
  212  in counties identified by the review.
  213         Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
  214  394.9086, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  215         394.9086 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use
  216  Disorder.—
  217         (4) DUTIES.—
  218         (a) The duties of the Commission on Mental Health and
  219  Substance Use Disorder include the following:
  220         1. Conducting a review and evaluation of the management and
  221  functioning of the existing publicly supported mental health and
  222  substance use disorder systems and services in the department,
  223  the Agency for Health Care Administration, and all other
  224  departments which administer mental health and substance use
  225  disorder services. Such review must shall include, at a minimum,
  226  a review of current goals and objectives, current planning,
  227  services strategies, coordination management, purchasing,
  228  contracting, financing, local government funding responsibility,
  229  and accountability mechanisms.
  230         2. Considering the unique needs of persons who are dually
  231  diagnosed.
  232         3. Addressing access to, financing of, and scope of
  233  responsibility in the delivery of emergency behavioral health
  234  care services.
  235         4. Addressing the quality and effectiveness of current
  236  mental health and substance use disorder services delivery
  237  systems, and professional staffing and clinical structure of
  238  services, roles, and responsibilities of public and private
  239  providers, such as community mental health centers; community
  240  substance use disorder agencies; hospitals, including emergency
  241  services departments; law enforcement agencies; and the judicial
  242  system.
  243         5. Addressing priority population groups for publicly
  244  funded mental health and substance use disorder services;,
  245  identifying the comprehensive mental health and substance use
  246  disorder services delivery systems;, mental health and substance
  247  use disorder needs assessment and planning activities,
  248  including, but not limited to, the use of the Daily Living
  249  Activities-20 functional assessment tool as described in s.
  250  1006.041(2)(b); and local government funding responsibilities
  251  for mental health and substance use disorder services.
  252         6. Reviewing the implementation of chapter 2020-107, Laws
  253  of Florida.
  254         7. Identifying any gaps in the provision of mental health
  255  and substance use disorder services.
  256         8. Providing recommendations on how behavioral health
  257  managing entities may fulfill their purpose of promoting service
  258  continuity and work with community stakeholders throughout this
  259  state in furtherance of supporting the 988 Suicide and Crisis
  260  Lifeline system and other crisis response services.
  261         9. Conducting an overview of the current infrastructure of
  262  the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system.
  263         10. Analyzing the current capacity of crisis response
  264  services available throughout this state, including services
  265  provided by mobile response teams and centralized receiving
  266  facilities. The analysis must include information on the
  267  geographic area and the total population served by each mobile
  268  response team along with the average response time to each call
  269  made to a mobile response team; the number of calls that a
  270  mobile response team was unable to respond to due to staff
  271  limitations, travel distance, or other factors; and the veteran
  272  status and age groups of individuals served by mobile response
  273  teams.
  274         11. Evaluating and making recommendations to improve
  275  linkages between the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  276  infrastructure and crisis response services within this state.
  277         12. Identifying available mental health block grant funds
  278  that can be used to support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  279  and crisis response infrastructure within this state, including
  280  any available funding through opioid settlements or through the
  281  American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2; the
  282  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Pub.
  283  L. No. 116-136; or other federal legislation.
  284         13.  In consultation with the Agency for Health Care
  285  Administration, identifying sources of funding available through
  286  the Medicaid program specifically for crisis response services,
  287  including funding that may be available by seeking approval of a
  288  Section 1115 waiver submitted to the Centers for Medicare and
  289  Medicaid Services.
  290         14. Making recommendations regarding the mission and
  291  objectives of state-supported mental health and substance use
  292  disorder services and the planning, management, staffing,
  293  financing, contracting, coordination, and accountability
  294  mechanisms which will best foster the recommended mission and
  295  objectives.
  296         15. Evaluating and making recommendations regarding the
  297  establishment of a permanent, agency-level entity to manage
  298  mental health, substance use disorder, and related services
  299  statewide. At a minimum, the evaluation must consider and
  300  describe the:
  301         a. Specific duties and organizational structure proposed
  302  for the entity;
  303         b. Resource needs of the entity and possible sources of
  304  funding;
  305         c. Estimated impact on access to and quality of services;
  306         d. Impact on individuals with behavioral health needs and
  307  their families, both those currently served through the affected
  308  systems providing behavioral health services and those in need
  309  of services; and
  310         e. Relation to, integration with, and impact on providers,
  311  managing entities, communities, state agencies, and systems
  312  which provide mental health and substance use disorder services
  313  in this state. Such recommendations must ensure that the ability
  314  of such other agencies and systems to carry out their missions
  315  and responsibilities is not impaired.
  316         16. Evaluating and making recommendations regarding skills
  317  based training that teaches participants about mental health and
  318  substance use disorder issues, including, but not limited to,
  319  Mental Health First Aid models.
  320         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
  321  1004.44, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is
  322  added to that section, to read:
  323         1004.44 Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.
  324  There is established the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health
  325  Institute within the University of South Florida.
  326         (6)(a) There is established within the institute the
  327  Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce. The purpose of
  328  the center is to support an adequate, highly skilled, resilient,
  329  and innovative workforce that meets the current and future human
  330  resources needs of the state’s behavioral health system in order
  331  to provide high-quality care, services, and supports to
  332  Floridians with, or at risk of developing, behavioral health
  333  conditions through original research, policy analysis,
  334  evaluation, and development and dissemination of best practices.
  335  The goals of the center are, at a minimum, to research the
  336  state’s current behavioral health workforce and future needs;
  337  expand the number of clinicians, professionals, and other
  338  workers involved in the behavioral health workforce; and enhance
  339  the skill level and innovativeness of the workforce. The center
  340  shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:
  341         1. Describe and analyze the current workforce and project
  342  possible future workforce demand, especially in critical roles,
  343  and develop strategies for addressing any gaps. The center’s
  344  efforts may include, but need not be limited to, producing a
  345  statistically valid biennial analysis of the supply and demand
  346  of the behavioral health workforce.
  347         2. Expand pathways to behavioral health professions through
  348  enhanced educational opportunities and improved faculty
  349  development and retention. The center’s efforts may include, but
  350  need not be limited to:
  351         a. Identifying best practices in the academic preparation
  352  and continuing education of behavioral health professionals.
  353         b. Facilitating and coordinating the development of
  354  academic-practice partnerships that support behavioral health
  355  faculty employment and advancement.
  356         c. Developing and implementing innovative projects to
  357  support the recruitment, development, and retention of
  358  behavioral health educators, faculty, and clinical preceptors.
  359         d. Developing distance learning infrastructure for
  360  behavioral health education and the evidence-based use of
  361  technology, simulation, and distance learning techniques.
  362         3. Promote behavioral health professions. The center’s
  363  efforts may include, but need not be limited to:
  364         a. Conducting original research on the factors affecting
  365  recruitment, retention, and advancement of the behavioral health
  366  workforce, such as designing and implementing a longitudinal
  367  study of the state’s behavioral health workforce.
  368         b. Developing and implementing innovative projects to
  369  support the recruitment, development, and retention of
  370  behavioral health workers.
  371         4. Analyze compensation and benefit data every other year
  372  to identify factors that have led to the shortage of behavioral
  373  health workers in this state and make recommendations for
  374  funding programs to support the growth and retention of the
  375  behavioral health workforce, such as stipends or other financial
  376  support for clinical supervisors, workers, interns, and students
  377  currently working in the field of behavioral health.
  378         5.Request from the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage
  379  and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, and the board
  380  must provide to the center upon its request, any information
  381  held by the board regarding the clinical social work, marriage
  382  and family therapy, and mental health counselors licensed in
  383  this state or information reported to the board by employers of
  384  such counselors, other than personal identifying information.
  385         6.Develop and routinely analyze a behavioral health
  386  workforce survey to increase insight into service provision and
  387  access, inform priorities that support retention, strategically
  388  address critical gaps, and inform workforce-related policy
  389  decisions. In conjunction with the Department of Health, the
  390  center shall conduct the survey at the time of initial licensure
  391  and license renewal for psychologists licensed under chapter 490
  392  and social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental
  393  health counselors licensed under chapter 491. The survey must
  394  solicit information including, but not limited to:
  395         a.The frequency and geographic location of practice.
  396         b.Participation in interjurisdictional practice and
  397  percentage of Florida and non-Florida residents served.
  398         c.Practice setting and populations served, including
  399  availability for critically needed services.
  400         d.Percentage of time spent in direct patient care.
  401         e.Compensation and benefits.
  402         f.Anticipated change to license or practice status.
  403         (8)(a)There is created within the institute the Center for
  404  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research. The purpose of the
  405  center is to conduct rigorous and relevant research intended to
  406  develop knowledge and practice in prevention and intervention
  407  for substance abuse and mental health issues, to serve the
  408  people and economy in this state in reducing the gap between
  409  population needs and the availability of effective treatments
  410  and other interventions to improve the capacity of the state to
  411  have healthy, resilient communities prevailing over substance
  412  abuse, addiction, and mental health challenges.
  413         (b)The goals of the center are, at a minimum, to advance
  414  the scientific understanding of the relationship between
  415  substance abuse and mental health issues, to improve treatment
  416  outcomes, and to reduce the societal impact and burden of
  417  substance abuse and mental health conditions. The center shall,
  418  at a minimum, do all of the following:
  419         1.Analyze publicly funded substance abuse and mental
  420  health services to identify gaps in insurance coverage, monitor
  421  quality of care and cost management, and enhance provider
  422  networks by identifying gaps in service provision by type and
  423  geographic location.
  424         2.Research and study the complex relationship between
  425  substance abuse and mental health disorders, including analyzing
  426  how substances may contribute to the onset of mental health
  427  conditions, how those conditions can lead to substance abuse,
  428  and how both can interact to create and worsen negative
  429  outcomes, such as violence, infectious disease, suicide, and
  430  overdose. The center must also study the range, distribution,
  431  and concentration of such negative outcomes.
  432         3.Develop and test strategies to prevent the development
  433  of both substance use and mental health disorders, including
  434  early risk factor identification and interventions designed for
  435  at-risk populations, specifically in rural settings, where
  436  resources may be limited and integrated care is essential.
  437         4.Conduct research on alternative, low-cost strategies for
  438  prevention and early intervention.
  439         5.Conduct outcomes and implementation research on
  440  optimizing application of technology for efficient and effective
  441  dissemination of evidence-based treatment across this state,
  442  with specific attention to rural and other low-resource areas,
  443  using telehealth, mobile device remote monitoring, delivery of
  444  patient-specific prompts via technology platforms for self
  445  management, and other aspects of care.
  446         6.Investigate and improve treatment options for
  447  individuals suffering from co-occurring substance use and mental
  448  health disorders, including developing integrated treatment
  449  programs that address both issues simultaneously.
  450         7.Generate evidence-based data to inform public policy and
  451  promote substance use disorder services and mental health
  452  disorder services.
  453         8.Develop community-based sharing agreements, local
  454  infrastructure, and methodologies to encourage data-informed
  455  decisionmaking to encourage economic efficiency and targeted
  456  service delivery.
  457         9.Develop and provide training for health care
  458  professionals, social workers, counselors, and researchers on
  459  the latest findings related to substance abuse and mental
  460  health, fostering a workforce capable of providing effective
  461  care.
  462         10.Articulate methods to align and adapt training
  463  approaches for delivering evidence-based practices to locally
  464  identified needs, including implementing evidence-based training
  465  and tools at community health centers to improve identification
  466  of mental health and substance use disorders and create plans
  467  for referral and continuity of care.
  468         11.Collaborate with community organizations to offer
  469  resources and education about substance use and mental health to
  470  reduce stigma and raise awareness.
  471         (c)By July 1 of each year, the center shall submit a
  472  report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
  473  Speaker of the House of Representatives providing details of its
  474  activities during the preceding calendar year in pursuit of its
  475  goals and in the execution of its duties under paragraph (b).
  476         Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  477  1006.041, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) is
  478  added to that section, to read:
  479         1006.041 Mental health assistance program.—Each school
  480  district must implement a school-based mental health assistance
  481  program that includes training classroom teachers and other
  482  school staff in detecting and responding to mental health issues
  483  and connecting children, youth, and families who may experience
  484  behavioral health issues with appropriate services.
  485         (2) A plan required under subsection (1) must be focused on
  486  a multitiered system of supports to deliver evidence-based
  487  mental health care assessment, diagnosis, intervention,
  488  treatment, and recovery services to students with one or more
  489  mental health or co-occurring substance abuse diagnoses and to
  490  students at high risk of such diagnoses. The provision of these
  491  services must be coordinated with a student’s primary mental
  492  health care provider and with other mental health providers
  493  involved in the student’s care. At a minimum, the plan must
  494  include all of the following components:
  495         (b) Contracts or interagency agreements with one or more
  496  local community behavioral health providers or providers of
  497  Community Action Team services to provide a behavioral health
  498  staff presence and services at district schools. Services may
  499  include, but are not limited to, mental health screenings and
  500  assessments, individual counseling, family counseling, group
  501  counseling, psychiatric or psychological services, trauma
  502  informed care, mobile crisis services, and behavior
  503  modification. These behavioral health services may be provided
  504  on or off the school campus and may be supplemented by
  505  telehealth as defined in s. 456.47(1). In addition to the
  506  services in this paragraph, the department shall implement the
  507  Daily Living Activities-20 (DLA-20) functional assessment tool
  508  to further assist providers in creating recommended treatment
  509  plans. The department shall review the DLA-20 functional
  510  assessment tool every other year to implement the most updated
  511  version. The department is authorized to replace the DLA-20
  512  functional assessment tool if it determines that a better
  513  alternative is available.
  514         (5) The Department of Children and Families, in
  515  consultation with the Department of Education, shall conduct a
  516  review every other year to identify effective models of school
  517  based behavioral health access, with an emphasis on underserved
  518  and rural communities. Such models must include, but are not
  519  limited to, telehealth services. The Department of Children and
  520  Families shall submit its findings to the Governor, the
  521  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
  522  Representatives by January 1 every other year, beginning in
  523  2026.
  524         Section 11. Subsection (6) of section 394.9085, Florida
  525  Statutes, is amended to read:
  526         394.9085 Behavioral provider liability.—
  527         (6) For purposes of this section, the terms
  528  “detoxification,” “addictions receiving facility,” and
  529  “receiving facility” have the same meanings as those provided in
  530  ss. 397.311(27)(a)4., 397.311(27)(a)1., and 394.455 394.455(40),
  531  respectively.
  532         Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  533  made by this act to section 394.468, Florida Statutes, in a
  534  reference thereto, paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
  535  394.463, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  536         394.463 Involuntary examination.—
  537         (2) INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION.—
  538         (g) The examination period must be for up to 72 hours and
  539  begins when a patient arrives at the receiving facility. For a
  540  minor, the examination shall be initiated within 12 hours after
  541  the patient’s arrival at the facility. Within the examination
  542  period, one of the following actions must be taken, based on the
  543  individual needs of the patient:
  544         1. The patient shall be released, unless he or she is
  545  charged with a crime, in which case the patient shall be
  546  returned to the custody of a law enforcement officer;
  547         2. The patient shall be released, subject to subparagraph
  548  1., for voluntary outpatient treatment;
  549         3. The patient, unless he or she is charged with a crime,
  550  shall be asked to give express and informed consent to placement
  551  as a voluntary patient and, if such consent is given, the
  552  patient shall be admitted as a voluntary patient; or
  553         4. A petition for involuntary services shall be filed in
  554  the circuit court or with the county court, as applicable. When
  555  inpatient treatment is deemed necessary, the least restrictive
  556  treatment consistent with the optimum improvement of the
  557  patient’s condition shall be made available. The petition shall
  558  be filed by one of the petitioners specified in s. 394.467, and
  559  the court shall dismiss an untimely filed petition. If a
  560  patient’s 72-hour examination period ends on a weekend or
  561  holiday, including the hours before the ordinary business hours
  562  on the morning of the next working day, and the receiving
  563  facility:
  564         a. Intends to file a petition for involuntary services,
  565  such patient may be held at the facility through the next
  566  working day thereafter and the petition must be filed no later
  567  than such date. If the facility fails to file the petition by
  568  the ordinary close of business on the next working day, the
  569  patient shall be released from the receiving facility following
  570  approval pursuant to paragraph (f).
  571         b. Does not intend to file a petition for involuntary
  572  services, the receiving facility may postpone release of a
  573  patient until the next working day thereafter only if a
  574  qualified professional documents that adequate discharge
  575  planning and procedures in accordance with s. 394.468, and
  576  approval pursuant to paragraph (f), are not possible until the
  577  next working day.
  578         Section 13. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  579  made by this act to section 394.495, Florida Statutes, in
  580  references thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and
  581  subsection (6) of section 394.4955, Florida Statutes, are
  582  reenacted to read:
  583         394.4955 Coordinated system of care; child and adolescent
  584  mental health treatment and support.—
  585         (2)
  586         (c) To the extent permitted by available resources, the
  587  coordinated system of care shall include the array of services
  588  listed in s. 394.495.
  589         (6) The managing entity shall identify gaps in the arrays
  590  of services for children and adolescents listed in s. 394.495
  591  available under each plan and include relevant information in
  592  its annual needs assessment required by s. 394.9082.
  593         Section 14. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  594  made by this act to section 1004.44, Florida Statutes, in a
  595  reference thereto, subsection (7) of section 1001.212, Florida
  596  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  597         1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the
  598  Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office
  599  is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The
  600  office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,
  601  training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters
  602  regarding school safety and security, including prevention
  603  efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness
  604  planning. The office shall:
  605         (7) Provide data to support the evaluation of mental health
  606  services pursuant to s. 1004.44. Such data must include, for
  607  each school, the number of involuntary examinations as defined
  608  in s. 394.455 which are initiated at the school, on school
  609  transportation, or at a school-sponsored activity and the number
  610  of children for whom an examination is initiated.
  611         Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.