The Tristin Murphy Act aims to enhance mental health support within the criminal justice system by expanding grant programs and establishing mental health diversion initiatives. It amends existing statutes to include training for 911 public safety telecommunicators and emergency medical technicians, as well as veterans treatment court programs. The bill also exempts certain fiscally constrained counties from local match requirements for specified grants, facilitating access to funding for mental health programs. It encourages communities to apply for grants to create misdemeanor or ordinance violation mental health diversion programs and establishes criteria for these programs, including the screening and evaluation of defendants with mental health issues.

Additionally, the legislation introduces a pretrial felony mental health diversion program and mandates that individuals sentenced to probation after regaining competency from a mental illness undergo a mental health evaluation. The bill establishes the Northwest Regional Data Center as the lead entity for creating the Florida Behavioral Health Care Data Repository, which will centralize and analyze statewide behavioral health care data. This repository aims to improve patient care and enhance the coordination of treatment information. The bill outlines a collaborative plan for the Data Center to develop with the Data Analysis Committee, including metrics and data security requirements, and appropriates funds for the implementation of the data repository, with the act set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 168 Filed: 916.185
S 168 c1: 916.185
S 168 c2: 916.185
S 168 er: 916.185