F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 633 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Mental Health and Substance Use
3 Disorder Awareness and Assistance Training Program;
4 creating s. 394.9088, F.S.; providing definitions;
5 requiring the Department of Children and Families to
6 establish a statewide mental health and substance use
7 disorder training program by a specified date;
8 providing program requirements; requiring the
9 department to select a coordinating agency to
10 administer the training program statewide by a
11 specified date; providing requirements for such
12 coordinating agency; requiring the coordinating agency
13 to submit certain reports to the department by
14 specified dates; providing an effective date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Section 394.9088, Florida Statutes, is created
19 to read:
20 394.9088 Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
21 Awareness and Assistance Training Program.—
22 (1) As used in this section, the term:
23 (a) "Coordinating agency" means a nonprofit organization
24 that is exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the
25 Internal Revenue Code, governed by a board of directors, and
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HB 633 2024
26 selected by the department to administer the training program.
27 (b) "Mental health" means a state of mental well-being
28 that enables a person to cope with the stresses of life, realize
29 his or her abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to his
30 or her community.
31 (c) "National authority" means a national organization
32 that has developed an evidence-based training program using
33 nationally certified trainers and that promotes a greater
34 understanding of mental well-being as a core component of
35 comprehensive health and health care.
36 (d) "Substance use disorder" means a treatable me ntal
37 health disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior
38 leading to an inability to control the use of substances
39 including legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications.
40 (e) "Training program" means a department-approved,
41 statewide mental health and substance use disorder training
42 program created by a national authority on mental health that
43 incorporates strategies to reduce the stigma associated with
44 mental illness, provides an overview of mental illness and
45 substance use disorders, and provides participants with skills
46 to use when experiencing a crisis.
47 (2)(a) Beginning July 1, 2024, the department shall
48 establish a training program with the goal of training people
49 whose occupations have a high level of daily interaction with
50 the public, including, but not limited to, first responders,
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51 health care professionals, educators, business employees, and
52 clergy, to recognize the signs of mental illness and substance
53 use disorders.
54 (b) The training program shall provide:
55 1. An overview of mental illnesses and substance use
56 disorders, including risk factors and warning signs, strategies
57 for how to help a person who is experiencing a mental health - or
58 substance use-related crisis, and how to seek help.
59 2. Practical strategies to help reduce the stigma
60 associated with mental illness and substance use disorders.
61 (3)(a) By September 1, 2024, the department shall select a
62 coordinating agency to administer the training program
63 statewide.
64 (b) The coordinating agency shall meet all of the
65 following criteria:
66 1. Have at least 5 years of experience providing mental
67 health and substance use disorder training in the state to at
68 least 10,000 people.
69 2. Be accredited by a national accrediting organization.
70 3. Provide financial statements audited by a nationally
71 recognized auditing firm.
72 4. Submit a 5-year, statewide, phase-in implementation
73 plan for administering the training program.
74 (4)(a) The coordinating agency shall be responsible for
75 all aspects of administering the training program based on its
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76 5-year, statewide, phase-in implementation plan. The plan shall
77 set a goal for the number of people to be trained each year.
78 Targeted populations shall include first responders and citizens
79 of high-risk neighborhoods and rural communities. The plan sh all
80 recommend a detailed budget to accomplish these goals, including
81 metrics and reporting requirements.
82 (b) By June 30, 2025, and annually thereafter by June 30,
83 the coordinating agency shall provide agreed-upon reporting
84 metrics including the number of people trained and the results
85 of surveys of people trained documenting their knowledge of
86 mental health first aid taught in the training. The report shall
87 also document the number of first responders trained. The
88 coordinating agency shall also provide success stories from
89 trainees who successfully used the training program to help
90 someone with a mental health- or substance use-related crisis.
91 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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