The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: CS/SB 1844
INTRODUCER: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee and Senator Bean
SUBJECT: Mental Health and Substance Abuse
DATE: February 23, 2022 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Delia Cox CF Fav/CS
2. Ravelo Cibula JU Favorable
3. Sneed Sadberry AP Favorable
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 1844 removes the requirement for Baker Act receiving facilities to hold voluntariness
hearings for patients under 18 years of age seeking voluntary admission. The bill provides that
receiving facilities may instead admit minors on a voluntary basis if the following conditions are
met:
 The patient is found to show evidence of mental illness;
 The patient is suitable for treatment; and
 The patient’s guardian provides express and informed consent to admission.
Under the bill, before a minor patient is admitted for a voluntary examination under the Baker
Act, providers at a receiving facility must determine that a minor patient has shown evidence of
mental illness and suitability for treatment, and the express and informed consent of a parent or
guardian must be obtained.
The bill also:
 Provides law enforcement officers with discretion in deciding whether or not to detain
someone and transfer them to a receiving facility under both the Baker and Marchman Acts;
 Requires law enforcement officers transporting an individual to a receiving facility for an
involuntary examination under the Baker and Marchman Acts to:
o Consider the person’s mental and behavioral state; and
o Restrain the individual in the least restrictive manner possible, especially if the person is
a minor.
BILL: CS/SB 1844 Page 2
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on receiving facilities. See Section V. Fiscal
Impact Statement.
The bill is effective July 1, 2022.
II. Present Situation:
The Baker Act
In 1971, the Legislature adopted the Florida Mental Health Act, known as the Baker Act.1 The
Baker Act deals with Florida’s mental health commitment laws, and includes legal procedures
for mental health examination and treatment, including voluntary and involuntary examinations.2
The Baker Act also protects the rights of all individuals examined or treated for mental illness in
Florida.3
Involuntary Examination
Individuals suffering from an acute mental health crisis may require emergency treatment to
stabilize their condition. Emergency mental health examination and stabilization services may be
provided on a voluntary or involuntary basis.4 An involuntary examination is required if there is
reason to believe that the person has a mental illness and because of his or her mental illness:
 The person has refused voluntary examination after conscientious explanation and disclosure
of the purpose of the examination or is unable to determine for himself or herself whether
examination is necessary; and
 Without care or treatment, the person is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for
himself or herself; such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm
to his or her well-being; and it is not apparent that such harm may be avoided through the
help of willing family members or friends or the provision of other services; or
 There is a substantial likelihood that without care or treatment the person will cause serious
bodily harm to himself or herself or others in the near future, as evidenced by recent
behavior.5
The involuntary examination may be initiated by:
 A court entering an ex parte order stating that a person appears to meet the criteria for
involuntary examination, based on sworn testimony;6
 A law enforcement officer taking a person who appears to meet the criteria for involuntary
examination into custody and delivering the person or having him or her delivered to a
receiving facility for examination;7 or
1
Chapter 71-131, L.O.F..; The Baker Act is contained in ch. 394, F.S.
2
Sections 394.451-394.47891, F.S.
3
Section 394.459, F.S.
4
Sections 394.4625 and 394.463, F.S.
5
Section 394.463(1), F.S.
6
Section 394.463(2)(a)1., F.S. In addition, the order of the court must be made a part of the patient’s clinical record.
7
Section 394.463(2)(a)2., F.S. The officer must execute a written report detailing the circumstances under which the person
was taken into custody, and the report must be made a part of the patient’s clinical record.
BILL: CS/SB 1844 Page 3
 A physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse, mental health counselor, marriage and
family therapist, or clinical social worker executing a certificate stating that he or she has
examined a person within the preceding 48 hours and finds that the person appears to meet
the criteria for involuntary examination, including a statement of the professional’s
observations supporting such conclusion.8
Involuntary patients must be taken to either a public or a private facility that has been designated
by the DCF as a Baker Act receiving facility. The purpose of receiving facilities is to receive and
hold, or refer, as appropriate, involuntary patients under emergency conditions for psychiatric
evaluation and to provide short-term treatment or transportation to the appropriate service
provider.9 The patient must be examined by the receiving facility within 72 hours of the initiation
of the involuntary examination and specified actions must be taken within that time frame to
address the individual needs of the patient.10
Voluntary Admissions and Transfer to Voluntary Status
Baker Act receiving facilities also admit any person 18 years of age or older making application
by express and informed consent for admission, or any person age 17 or under for whom such
application is made by his or her guardian.11 If found to show evidence of mental illness, to be
competent to provide express and informed consent, and to be suitable for treatment, a person 18
years of age or older may be admitted to the facility. 12
A patient admitted on an involuntary basis who applies to be transferred to voluntary status must
be transferred to voluntary status immediately, unless the patient has been charged with a crime,
or has been involuntarily placed for treatment by a court pursuant to s. 394.467, F.S., and
continues to meet the criteria for involuntary placement.13
Voluntary Admissions for Minor Patients
Any person age 17 or under may be admitted only after a hearing to verify the voluntariness of
their consent.14 However, in 1997 a joint legislative committee determined that the
“voluntariness hearing”15 described in the Florida Administrative Code at that time did not
conform to a “hearing” as intended elsewhere in statute, as all other references to “hearings” in
the Baker Act are judicial in nature.16 Moreover, minors lack the legal capacity to independently
8
Section 394.463(2)(a)3., F.S. The report and certificate shall be made a part of the patient’s clinical record
9
Section 394.455(40), F.S.
10
Section 394.463(2)(g), F.S.
11
Section 394.4625(1)(a), F.S.
12
Id.
13
Section 394.4625(4), F.S.
14
Id.
15
Prior to 1997, Rule 10E-5.21(4), F.A.C., defined a “voluntary hearing” as follows: “An informal hearing between a facility
administrator or his designee and an individual under 18 years of age who has requested voluntary admission. The purpose of
this meeting is to verify and ensure the voluntariness of the applicant’s request. This is a nonjudicial procedure and is solely
for the purpose of safeguarding against an individual being coerced, pressured, misled, or in any way forced to seek voluntary
admission to a facility.” Fla. Admin. Code R. 10E-5.21(4) (1996) (on file with the Senate Committee on Children, Families,
and Elder Affairs).
16
The DCF, Frequently Asked Questions, p. 7-9, available at https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/samh/crisis-
services/laws/Minors.pdf (last visited February 1, 2022) (hereinafter, “The DCF FAQs”).
BILL: CS/SB 1844 Page 4
consent to admission or treatment.17 As a result, all reference to “voluntary hearings” were
removed from the Code.18 The DCF states that only a judicial hearing would suffice to meet this
legal requirement, and that such hearings would need to be conducted prior to the minor's
voluntary admission, despite the consent of the parents or assent of the child to the admission.19
The majority of patients under the age of 18 years old who are admitted under the Baker Act are
admitted under involuntary status and either discharged or later transferred to voluntary status,
and the DCF states that it is unlikely that pre-admission court hearings for voluntary admission
of minors are being conducted anywhere in the state.20 Some facilities still require staff to
conduct a “voluntariness hearing”; some review voluntary admissions with the court magistrate
at the time involuntary placement hearings are conducted; and others do not hold any type of
hearing.21
The Marchman Act
In the early 1970s, the federal government enacted laws creating formula grants for states to
develop continuums of care for individuals and families affected by substance abuse.22 The laws
resulted in separate funding streams and requirements for alcoholism and drug abuse. In response
to the laws, the Florida Legislature enacted chs. 396 and 397, F.S., relating to alcohol and drug
abuse, respectively.23 Each of these laws governed different aspects of addiction, and thus had
different rules promulgated by the state to fully implement the respective pieces of legislation.24
However, because persons with substance abuse issues often do not restrict their misuse to one
substance or another, having two separate laws dealing with the prevention and treatment of
addiction was cumbersome and did not adequately address Florida’s substance abuse problem.25
In 1993, legislation was adopted to combine ch. 396 and 397, F.S., into a single law, the Hal S.
Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act (Marchman Act).26
17
Id., p. 8.
18
Prior to 1997, Rule 10E-5.050: Voluntary Admissions of Civil Patients, contained special requirements pertaining to the
voluntary admission of minor patients at Baker Act receiving facilities. Specifically, a hearing must be conducted by the
facility administrator or their designee, in such a manner as to ensure the applicant’s ability to freely express their desires.
Participation in the hearing was to be limited to the individual seeking voluntary admission, and the facility administrator or
their designee was to ensure the uninfluenced response of the applicant. At the specific request of the administrator or the
patient, another facility staff member or an attorney may be present. Findings of the hearing were to be recorded in the
patient’s clinical record and subject to review in the same manner as other items in the record. In the event the voluntary
nature of the request was not confirmed, the facility was required to release the patient, unless the patient met the criteria for
involuntary examination and a “Certificate of Professional Initiating Involuntary Examination” was executed. See Rule 10E-
5.050(3), F.A.C. (1996) (on file with the Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs).
19
The DCF FAQs, p. 11.
20
Id.
21
Id.
22
The DCF, Baker Act and Marchman Act Project Team Report for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, p. 4-5. (on file with the Senate
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee).
23
Id.
24
Id.
25
Id.
26
Chapter 93-39, s. 2, L.O.F., which codified current ch. 397, F.S.
BILL: CS/SB 1844 Page 5
The Marchman Act encourages individuals to seek services on a voluntary basis within the
existing financial and space capacities of a service provider.27 However, denial of addiction is a
prevalent symptom of SUD, creating a barrier to timely intervention and effective treatment.28
As a result, treatment typically must stem from a third party providing the intervention needed
for SUD treatment.29
Involuntary Admissions
The Marchman Act establishes a variety of methods under which substance abuse assessment,
stabilization, and treatment can be obtained on an involuntary basis. There are five involuntary
admission procedures that can be broken down into two categories depending upon whether the
court is involved.30 Three of the procedures do not involve the court, while two require direct
petitions to the circuit court. The same criteria for involuntary admission apply regardless of the
admission process used.31
An individual meets the criteria for an involuntary admission under the Marchman Act when
there is good faith reason to believe the individual is substance abuse impaired and, because of
such impairment, has lost the power of self-control with respect to substance use, and either:
 Is in need of substance abuse services and, by reason of substance abuse impairment, his or
her judgment has been so impaired that he or she is incapable of appreciating his or her need
for such services and of making a rational decision in that regard;32 or
 Without care or treatment:
o The person is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for himself or herself;
o Such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to his or her
well-being; and
o It is not apparent that such harm may be avoided through the help of willing family
members or friends or the provision of other services; or
o There is substantial likelihood that the person:
 Has inflicted, or threatened to or attempted to inflict physical harm on himself,
herself, or another; or
 Is likely to inflict, physical harm on himself, herself, or another unless he or she is
admitted.33
27
See s. 397.601(1) and (2), F.S. An individual who wishes to enter treatment may apply to a service provider for voluntary
admission. Within the financial and space capabilities of the service provider, the individual must be admitted to treatment
when sufficient evidence exists that he or she is impaired by substance abuse and his or her medical and behavioral
conditions are not beyond the safe management capabilities of the service provider.
28
Darran Duchene and Patrick Lane, Fundamentals of the Marchman Act, Risk RX, Vol. 6 No. 2 (Apr. – Jun. 2006) State
University System of Florida Self-Insurance Programs, available at http://flbog.sip.ufl.edu/risk-rx-article/fundamentals-of-
the-marchman-act/ (last visited February 1, 2022) (hereinafter cited as “Fundamentals of the Marchman Act”).
29
Id.
30
Id.
31
Id.
32
Section 394.675(2)(a), F.S. However, mere refusal to receive services does not constitute evidence of lack of judgment
with respect to the person’s need for such services.
33
Section 397.675(2)(b), F.S.
BILL: CS/SB 1844 Page 6
Non-Court Involved Involuntary Admissions
The three types of non-court procedures for involuntary admission for substance abuse treatment
under the Marchman Act include protective custody, emergency admission, and the alternative
involuntary assessment for minors.
Law enforcement officers use the protective custody procedure when an individual is substance-
impaired or intoxicated in public and such impairment is brought to the attention of the officer.34
The purpose of this procedure is to allow the person to be taken to a safe environment for
observation and assessment to determine the need for treatment. A law enforcement officer may
take the individual to their residence, to a hospital, a detoxification center, or an addiction
receiving facility, whichever the officer determines is most appropriate.35
If the individual in these circumstances does not consent to protective custody, the officer