The bill establishes the Coordinated Access Model Pilot Program under a new section, 394.45735, Florida Statutes, which mandates the Department of Children and Families to contract with an entity to implement this program in Clay, Duval, and St. Johns Counties. The program aims to enhance access to behavioral health services through a single point of entry. The Department is required to award the contract by December 1, 2026, and include specific provisions to ensure data portability, operational documentation, and cost transparency. The contracted entity must have relevant experience and is required to subcontract with a state university to provide training and internship opportunities in allied health and social work.

The bill outlines the requirements for the coordinated access model, which includes a network access point, standardized screening tools, referral coordination, and a real-time service directory. It emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and data collection for evaluating service utilization and system performance. The Department is tasked with providing quarterly reports on the program's status and an annual assessment of its effectiveness starting November 30, 2027. Additionally, the Department and the contracted entity are authorized to seek funding from various sources to support the program, and the Department may adopt rules for its administration. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.