Florida Senate - 2026 SB 94
By Senator Sharief
35-00392-26 202694__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to suicide prevention for active and
3 former members of the United States Armed Forces, the
4 National Guard, and their reserve components;
5 providing legislative findings and intent; amending s.
6 394.463, F.S.; requiring a facility conducting an
7 involuntary examination to include in its report to
8 the Baker Act Reporting Center whether the individual
9 examined is an active or former member of the United
10 States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or their
11 reserve components; providing an effective date.
12
13 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds the rate of suicide among
14 Florida active duty members and veterans of the United States
15 Armed Forces, the National Guard, and their reserve components
16 remains alarmingly high when compared to that of civilians, and
17 WHEREAS, according to the Office of Suicide Prevention,
18 there were 34.7 suicides per 100,000 veterans compared to 17.1
19 per 100,000 nonveterans reported in 2022, and
20 WHEREAS, current reporting requirements under the Baker Act
21 do not mandate the collection of data on whether individuals
22 subject to involuntary examinations are active duty members or
23 veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard,
24 or their reserve components, and
25 WHEREAS, without accurate reporting, the state lacks
26 critical information needed to determine whether the Baker Act
27 is being applied appropriately to active duty members and
28 veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard,
29 or their reserve components, and
30 WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to strengthen oversight
31 and accountability in the application of the Baker Act by
32 requiring mandatory reporting to include identification of a
33 patient’s military status to support improved policymaking,
34 prevention strategies, and positive mental health outcomes, NOW,
35 THEREFORE,
36
37 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
38
39 Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 394.463,
40 Florida Statutes, to read:
41 394.463 Involuntary examination.—
42 (6) VETERAN AND MILITARY STATUS REPORTING.—Any facility
43 conducting an involuntary examination pursuant to this section
44 must include in its report to the Baker Act Reporting Center at
45 the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute whether
46 the individual examined is an active or former member of the
47 United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or their reserve
48 components.
49 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.