The bill aims to enhance substance abuse and mental health care services in Florida by amending various sections of the Florida Statutes. Key provisions include the incorporation of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center into mental health crisis services, as defined in the new section 394.9088. It also allows for the discharge of guardian advocates upon a patient's release from involuntary outpatient services and establishes criteria for involuntary outpatient placements. Furthermore, it mandates that clinical psychologists involved in these determinations have at least three years of clinical experience. The bill also revises definitions related to "court" and "crisis services," ensuring that orders for continued involuntary placement by administrative law judges are final and subject to judicial review, while streamlining the hearing scheduling process and requiring documentation for relevant parties.

Additionally, the bill CS/HB 1091 focuses on improving the training and qualifications of mental health professionals conducting forensic evaluations in the criminal justice system. It requires the Department of Children and Families to develop training programs covering competency restoration and evidence-based practices, and limits the court to appointing no more than three experts for evaluating a defendant's mental condition. New requirements for these experts include completing initial and annual forensic evaluator training, with existing evaluators needing to comply by July 1, 2026. The bill also mandates that experts report on available treatment options in the community and updates eligibility criteria for publicly funded mental health services to include individuals with severe mental illness and those in the criminal justice system, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1091 Filed: 394.4573, 916.111, 916.115, 916.12, 394.674, 394.74
H 1091 c1: 394.4573, 394.4598, 394.4625, 394.4655, 916.111, 916.115, 916.12, 394.674, 397.68141, 394.74