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 1309 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to community mobile support teams;
3 amending s. 394.495, F.S.; requiring the Department of
4 Children and Families to contract with managing
5 entities for community mobile support teams to place
6 certain crisis counselors within local law enforcement
7 agencies to conduct follow-up contacts with certain
8 persons; providing requirements for crisis counselors,
9 community mobile support teams, and certain community
10 mental health centers; providing an effective date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Subsection (8) is added to section 394.495,
15 Florida Statutes, to read:
16 394.495 Child and adolescent mental health system of care;
17 programs and services.—
18 (8)(a) The department shall contract with managing
19 entities for community mobile support teams throughout the state
20 to place crisis counselors from community mental health centers
21 in local law enforcement agencies. The counselors shall conduct
22 follow-up contacts with children, adolescents, and adults who
23 have been involuntarily committed under the Baker Act by a law
24 enforcement officer. The goal of the community mobile support
25 team through its partnership with law enforcement is to reduce
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26 recidivism of involuntary commitments under the Baker Act by law
27 enforcement, reduce the time burden of law enforcement
28 completing follow-up work with persons after commitment under
29 the Baker Act, provide additional crisis intervention services,
30 assist persons with engagement in mental health care, and give
31 persons another option for mental health crisis intervention
32 other than the use of law enforcement.
33 (b) A community mobile support team crisis counselor
34 shall, at a minimum:
35 1. Provide follow-up care to individuals in the community
36 that law enforcement has identified as needing additional mental
37 health support.
38 2. Conduct home visits to assist a person with connecting
39 with the appropriate aftercare services in his or her community
40 following his or her discharge from a Baker Act receiving
41 facility.
42 3. Provide support to aid a person during the transition
43 period from his or her release from commitment under the Baker
44 Act to connection with aftercare services.
45 4. Provide brief crisis counseling and assessment for
46 additional needs.
47 (c) A community mobile support team shall offer, at a
48 minimum, all of the following services:
49 1. Crisis assessment.
50 2. Community-based crisis counseling.
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51 3. In-person, follow-up care after involuntary commitment
52 under the Baker Act by a law enforcement officer.
53 4. Assistance with accessing and engaging in aftercare
54 services.
55 5. Assistance with obtaining other necessary community
56 resources to maintain stability.
57 6. Coordination of safety planning.
58 (d) A community mental health center contracted by a
59 managing entity to provide a community mobile support team must:
60 1. Collaborate with local law enforcement offices in the
61 planning, development, and program evaluation processes.
62 2. Require that services be made available 7 days a week.
63 3. Establish independent response protocols and
64 memorandums of understanding with local law enforcement
65 agencies.
66 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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