Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1246



By Senator Polsky





30-01695A-24 20241246__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Florida State Psychiatric
3 Hospital; creating s. 394.9088, F.S.; providing a
4 short title; providing legislative findings and
5 intent; establishing the Florida State Psychiatric
6 Hospital in a specified location to provide
7 specialized care for specified individuals; requiring
8 the hospital to establish an admittance program for
9 specified individuals; providing requirements for
10 length of an individual’s stay; providing for funding;
11 providing that the hospital and its admittance program
12 operate in conjunction with specified laws; requiring
13 a court to consider permanent placement under certain
14 circumstances; providing for release protocols;
15 prohibiting the program from being used for specified
16 individuals; requiring the Department of Health, in
17 conjunction with the Department of Children and
18 Families, to jointly oversee the implementation and
19 administration of the program; providing severability;
20 providing an effective date.
21
22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24 Section 1. Section 394.9088, Florida Statutes, is created
25 to read:
26 394.9088 Florida State Psychiatric Hospital.—
27 (1) This act may be cited as the “Florida State Psychiatric
28 Hospital and Enhanced Admittance Programs Act.”
29 (2)(a) The Legislature finds that it is essential to
30 address and provide comprehensive treatment for emotionally or
31 psychologically disturbed individuals who pose a threat to their
32 communities and society, with a specific focus on combatting and
33 deterring gun violence in this state.
34 (b) The purpose of this act is to establish the Florida
35 State Psychiatric Hospital which shall establish enhanced
36 admittance programs to ensure the safety of communities, provide
37 necessary long-term treatment for individuals who present a
38 viable threat or danger, and serve as a model program for the
39 potential expansion of psychiatric hospitals in other areas of
40 the state.
41 (3)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital is hereby
42 established in Chattahoochee.
43 (b) The hospital shall be equipped and staffed to provide
44 specialized care and treatment for emotionally or
45 psychologically disturbed individuals who pose a threat to their
46 communities and society.
47 (c) The hospital shall have a 600 bed, male and female
48 statewide program that serves residents of the state.
49 (4)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital shall
50 establish an admittance program for individuals who, according
51 to medical professionals’ assessments, pose a threat to their
52 communities and society due to emotional or psychological
53 disturbances.
54 (b) The length of an individual’s stay in the hospital
55 shall be determined by multiple health care practitioners and
56 based on the individual’s condition and progress.
57 (5) The program’s funding shall be derived from multiple
58 sources, including an individual’s health insurance, state
59 funds, and federal grants, when applicable.
60 (6)(a) The Florida State Psychiatric Hospital and its
61 admittance program shall operate in conjunction with the Baker
62 Act, but shall offer extended treatment durations beyond a 24
63 hour assessment period.
64 (b) If extended treatment goes beyond 30 days, a court must
65 consider permanent placement at the psychiatric hospital.
66 (7)(a) Upon release, individuals admitted under this
67 section are required to comply with protocols, including weekly
68 mandatory medical visits and appointments.
69 (b) Failure to comply with the prescribed protocols may
70 result in readmittance to the Florida State Psychiatric
71 Hospital.
72 (8) The program may not be used for individuals with
73 general psychological conditions or developmental disorders. The
74 program is reserved exclusively for individuals who pose a
75 viable threat or danger to their communities and society.
76 (9) The Department of Health, in conjunction with the
77 Department of Children and Families, shall jointly oversee the
78 implementation and administration of the program.
79 (10) If any provision of this act or its application to any
80 person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not
81 affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be
82 given effect without the invalid provision or application.
83 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.