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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to substance abuse and mental health

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services; creating s. 394.9086, F.S.; establishing mental

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health and substance abuse community-based provider

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networks; providing legislative findings and intent;

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providing definitions; providing program goals; specifying

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the responsibilities of the Department of Children and

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Family Services; requiring the department to annually

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report to the Legislature on its planning and research

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activities; requiring the department to establish

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geographic areas and to contract with a single network to

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provide services in that area; requiring that a portion of

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the department's funds be allocated to the networks;

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requiring the networks to give department employees a

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hiring preference; providing that state employees that are

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hired by the networks will continue to accumulate years of

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service in the state retirement system; requiring the

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department and the Agency for Health Care Administration

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to execute managed care contracts with the networks;

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providing qualifying requirements for community-based

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networks; specifying the responsibilities of community-

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based networks; specifying management information system

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requirements for the department and the networks;

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providing for an annual report to the Legislature on the

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implementation and performance of the management

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information system; providing for contracting, monitoring,

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and evaluation policies and procedures; providing an

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implementation schedule for the statewide establishment of

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the networks; requiring the department to contract with

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the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute to

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monitor and provide implementation assistance to the

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networks; requiring reports to the Legislature until

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statewide implementation is accomplished; requiring the

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Governor to establish an Interagency Committee on

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health composed of the heads of

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specified agencies; requiring the committee to develop a

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plan for improving the coordination of substance abuse and

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mental health programs administered by the participating

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agencies; authorizing the Department of Children and

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Family Services to adopt rules; repealing s. 394.9082,

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F.S., relating to behavioral health service delivery

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strategies; directing the Department of Financial Services

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and the Department of Management Services to provide for

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the department's flexibility in implementing this act;

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providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 394.9086, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     394.9086 Community-based networks.--

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     (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.--

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     (a) The Legislature finds that substance abuse and mental

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health disorders are a major health problem affecting an

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estimated 48 percent of the population at some time in their

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lives, placing a major economic burden on public and private

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resources by significantly increasing the demands on, and the

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disease-related expenses experienced by, families, friends, and

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employers and the state's juvenile and criminal justice, child

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welfare, health care, and economic assistance systems.

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     (b) The Legislature finds that substance abuse and mental

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health disorders are primary, chronic, and treatable diseases

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that respond best to individually tailored regimens of treatment,

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rehabilitation, and other supportive interventions that are most

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effective when provided within a consumer's home community.

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     (c) The Legislature finds that state administrative

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structures and financing for purchasing and managing treatment,

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prevention, intervention, and other services for persons with

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substance abuse and mental health disorders have evolved in

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response to numerous federal, state, and local policies and

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program initiatives. As a result, there has been a proliferation

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of administrative entities at all levels of government having

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overlapping roles, responsibilities, and jurisdictions, which has

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negatively affected the public substance abuse and mental health

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system and diminished accountability for performance and

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treatment outcomes. It is increasingly difficult for local

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providers to secure sufficient resources from multiple payers to

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meet consumer and community needs, remain compliant with multiple

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and ever-changing contracting requirements, adjust to varying

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performance standards, and meet often disparate and redundant

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monitoring and reporting requirements. These demands further

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reduce the funds available for services and make it more

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difficult to sustain local systems of care.

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     (d) In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of

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publicly funded substance abuse and mental health systems and to

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enhance provider performance and consumer outcomes, the

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Legislature authorized pilot programs in several areas of the

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state to test models that outsource administrative and service

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functions to local systems of care. The Legislature finds that

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these pilot programs have resulted in higher levels of consumer

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and family satisfaction; improved provider accountability;

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expanded the use of evidenced-based practices and continuous

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quality improvement approaches to care; led to the design of more

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sophisticated and accessible information systems that have

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enhanced information management, analysis, and reporting

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capabilities; and promoted the broader participation of

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consumers, families, and community stakeholders in the

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development and enhancement of local systems of care. The

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Legislature further finds that state administrative costs may be

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reduced by integrating and eliminating the duplication of

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monitoring, reporting, auditing, outcome measurement, and other

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administrative functions carried out by several state and local

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agencies that fund substance abuse and mental health services.

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     (e) The Legislature finds that state and local communities

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have made substantial investments in the establishment of local

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systems of care comprised of nonprofit, community-based providers

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governed by community boards. These community-based providers

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have experience in serving department consumers, have long-

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standing linkages with other community agencies, and have

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successfully carried out statutorily prescribed public social

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service, health, and safety functions important to consumers,

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policymakers, and state residents.

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     (f) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to

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restructure the administration, management, and financing of

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community-based substance abuse and mental health services by

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privatizing the administration of publicly funded services

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through creating and contracting with a single community-based

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network in a specified geographic area.

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     (2) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

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     (a) "Community-based network" means an administering

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organization that purchases and offers, through a provider-based

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network, a full range of substance abuse and mental health

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services, serves as a single point of accountability at the local

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level, and is responsible for the day-to-day planning for,

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delivery of, and monitoring of services in a local community.

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     (b) "Department" means the Department of Children and

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Family Services.

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     (c) "Safety net provider" means a community substance abuse

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or mental health provider that is enrolled in the Medicaid

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program or contracts with the department; that by mandate or

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mission organizes and delivers a significant level of care to the

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uninsured, to Medicaid recipients, and to other vulnerable

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populations; that offers specialized or essential substance abuse

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or mental health services not generally provided by other local

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agencies; and that has strong community ties.

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     (3) GOALS.--

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     (a) The overall goal of the department, working in concert

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with community-based networks, is to restructure the

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administration of the publicly funded substance abuse and mental

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health system to ensure the effective coordination, integration,

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and management of publicly funded services that are cost-

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effective, accessible, and consumer and family oriented, and that

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achieve the performance and outcome measures established by the

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department.

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     (b) Other goals of the restructured substance abuse and

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mental health system include:

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     1. Promoting the recovery and resiliency of individuals

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served by the system.

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     2. Identifying and treating people who have substance abuse

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or mental health disorders, including those who are at high risk

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of poor outcomes and involvement in other systems of care.

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     3. Improving state and local accountability for the

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quality, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of substance

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abuse and mental health care and for access to that care.

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     4. Providing greater flexibility and assigning

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responsibility to local systems for testing new and innovative

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strategies for the delivery and financing of substance abuse and

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mental health services, enhancing individualized treatment and

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support services, and promoting the coordination of the multiple

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health and human service providers and public and private payers

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involved with individuals who have substance abuse or mental

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health disorders.

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     5. Improving the overall quality of substance abuse and

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mental health services through the use of evidence-based and

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promising practice models.

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     6. Improving the coordination and integration of the system

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with other public systems, such as the physical health, housing,

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employment, education, child welfare, emergency services, law

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enforcement, and criminal justice systems.

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     7. Maximizing current resources, controlling the costs of

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services without limiting quality of care, and increasing the

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proportion of total funds spent on direct care.

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     8. Reducing unnecessary and burdensome regulatory barriers

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to care.

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     9 Improving the collection, analysis, and dissemination of

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substance abuse and mental health data for planning, performance

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measurement, and monitoring purposes, and to improving

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departmental decisionmaking through the use of information

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collected by the community-based networks and disseminated by the

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department through its data warehouse capabilities.

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     10. Promoting continuity of care for all children,

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adolescents, and adults who receive services from publicly funded

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substance abuse and mental health systems.

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     11. Improving public safety through prevention, early

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diagnosis and treatment, diversionary programs, and enhanced

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system coordination.

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     12. Promoting early diagnosis and treatment to enhance

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recovery, prevent hospitalizations, and avoid crises.

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     13. Assisting community-based networks in improving the

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assessment of local needs for substance abuse and mental health

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services.

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     14. Effecting the elimination of ethnic, gender, and age

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disparities in access to care.

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     15. Improving public understanding of the causes, effects,

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and treatment of substance abuse and mental health disorders.

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     16. Improving access to safe, affordable, and permanent

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housing.

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     17. Promoting preventive programs and services.

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     (4) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.--Specific roles and

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responsibilities of the department include:

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     (a) Providing overall system leadership and data-based

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system oversight, and ensuring system accountability, enhancement

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of services, and protection of the state's substance abuse and

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mental health safety net and safety net providers.

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     (b) Ensuring the effective design, coordination,

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integration, and management of the public substance abuse and

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mental health system across state agencies and levels of

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government. The department shall establish policies and

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procedures, including specific service definitions, eligibility

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standards and limits, and priority service and eligibility

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requirements; determine and establish program priorities; promote

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the use of evidenced-based and promising practices through its

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facilities and community-based networks; introduce innovative and

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model programs; establish statewide systems of care for children

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and adults; design a comprehensive array of community services

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that promote recovery and resiliency in patients; create

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integrated treatment programs for individuals with co-occurring

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disorders; develop and publish treatment and service standards;

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and designate and set standards for centers of excellence.

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     (c) Implementing a statewide, managed system of community-

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based substance abuse and mental health care. The department

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shall develop and provide for the phased implementation of a

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fully privatized and locally administered community-based system,

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with statewide implementation to be completed by June 30, 2011.

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The department shall streamline administrative and regulatory

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processes to maximize the flexibility available to community-

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based networks and their providers in meeting the needs of

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consumers. The department shall enter into contracts with

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community-based networks in the manner prescribed in this

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section. The department shall monitor contractors' program and

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fiscal performance, prepare reports on network achievement of

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program and outcome measures, set performance benchmarks and

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standards, ensure that network services are delivered in

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accordance with applicable federal and state statutes and

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regulations, and develop and implement network reimbursement

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methods.

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     (d) Being responsible for the financial management and

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fiscal integrity of publicly funded substance abuse and mental

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health programs. The department shall monitor program

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expenditures and identify budget trends and issues, expand

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financing options and opportunities, promote the blending and

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integration of state-appropriated funding, and maximize other

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public and private sources of program funding.

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     (e) Working with the community-based networks, the

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department shall design and implement a quality assurance program

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and quality improvement program to enhance the quality of

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substance abuse and mental health services; improve program

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performance and consumer outcomes, including the use of pay-for-

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performance incentives; implement model-based and evidence-based

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treatment practices; and provide technical assistance to and

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support for the efforts of the community-based networks in

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developing innovative and model programs and services. The

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department shall strive to redirect service dollars from less

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than effective service models to successful community-based

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services and support models, and reward cost-effective programs,

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services, and care patterns.

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     (f) Conducting comprehensive substance abuse and mental

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health program planning and research. The department shall

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conduct statewide need assessments and maintain resource

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inventories; identify treatment gaps; disseminate information

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about the latest trends, issues, and research; identify the need

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for, and assist in, the development of new community resources

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and service models; and identify and act on systemic and

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structural problems in the delivery and funding of substance

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abuse and mental health systems. The department shall prepare and

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submit to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1 of each

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year an update on its planning and research activities, including

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needs identified, community-based network purchasing

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specifications, and the department's accomplishments and needs

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relative to the purposes of this section.

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     (g) Based on data collected through the information systems

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of the community-based networks, enhancing agency transparency by

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collecting and widely disseminating program data and information

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and expanding public, provider, consumer, and other stakeholder

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access to program information. The department shall assist

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community-based networks in developing and implementing best-of-

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breed information technology and management information systems,

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establishing performance and outcome measures, establishing

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information system requirements and data standards, and expanding

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data sharing among state and local agencies.

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     (h) Directing a program of statewide advocacy for consumers

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and their families. The department shall establish and operate a

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consumer affairs office and program; establish statewide public

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information and educational programs; increase public awareness

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of substance abuse and mental health issues; conduct a stigma-

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reduction campaign; expand public involvement in state and local

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substance abuse and mental health issues; expand partnerships

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with consumers, families, and advocates; increase the

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availability of peer specialists; expand the use of consumers in

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the workforce; and promote peer-based and consumer-operated

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services.

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     (i) Funding and assisting in the design and implementation

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of staff development and training programs. The department shall

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conduct workforce planning, including the completion of workforce

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needs assessments by discipline and area of the state, develop a

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statewide workforce plan and strategies, assist community-based

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networks and colleges and universities in enhancing staff

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competencies and knowledge base, and develop and implement

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strategies for improving the recruitment and retention of a

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qualified substance abuse and mental health workforce.

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     (j) Working with the community-based networks, the

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department shall enhance the image and reputation of the public

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substance abuse and mental health system's programs, leadership,

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and management with the public, policymakers, consumers,

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providers, other stakeholders, and the general public. The

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department shall also serve as the chief liaison with federal,

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state, and local entities and other stakeholders on substance

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abuse and mental health issues.

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     (k) Focusing the regional and circuit offices of the

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department on conducting community and regional substance abuse

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and mental health planning, completing local needs assessments,

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advocating for consumers and their families, providing public and

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community education, assisting the department in assessing local

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trends and issues, and advising departmental headquarters on

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local priorities.

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     (5) COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEMS OF CARE.--

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     (a) The department shall establish specified geographic

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areas, which may be a county or combination of counties, a

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circuit or combination of circuits, a region, or a multi-region

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area according to departmental discretion and based on naturally

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occurring market areas, and shall execute a managed care contract

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with a single community-based network to administer the provision

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of publicly funded substance abuse and mental health services for

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consumers in each area. In determining the geographic coverage of

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a community-based network, the department shall also consider the

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network's capacity to ensure that provider choice and self-

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directed care principals can be realized and that economies of

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scale are such that the desired cost efficiencies can be

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achieved. The department's goal in managing services should be

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cost-efficiency, not cost-containment.

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     (b) A substantial portion of the funds currently allocated

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to departmental circuit and regional offices for the management

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of contracted substance abuse and mental health services shall be

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allocated to the community-based networks for the administrative

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functions reassigned from the department to the networks. These

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funds shall, to the extent possible, support the administrative

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costs associated with network contractual responsibilities.

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     1. The department, working with the Florida Mental Health

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Institute, shall identify the funds to be transferred by December

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2008.

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     2. Persons currently employed by the department to manage

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substance abuse and mental health services whose positions are

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being privatized pursuant to this section shall be given hiring

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preference by the network if the departmental employee meets the

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network's qualifications. For those departmental employees

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subsequently employed by a network, years of service in network

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employment shall qualify as years of service in the state

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retirement system.

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     (c) The community-based networks selected by the department

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are recognized as independent vendors that may also contract with

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other public or private organizations to manage plans and

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services operated by other organizations in order to increase the

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network's cost-effectiveness.

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     (d) The department and the Agency for Health Care

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Administration shall both execute managed care contracts with

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community-based networks to provide for the integration of

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funding for consumers of departmental and Medicaid services. The

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department and the agency shall jointly prepare and submit a plan

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to the Legislature by December 1, 2008, on their proposal to

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blend and integrate funding sources to better coordinate service

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delivery through a single entity in each area of the state.

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     (6) QUALIFICATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED NETWORKS.--The

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department shall adopt criteria and a process for qualifying

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community-based networks. In order to be qualified a network

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must:

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     (a) Be incorporated in this state and qualify as a non-

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profit organization under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue

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Service.

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     (b) Be provider-owned and operated and comprised of

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nonprofit safety net providers governed by community boards that

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have traditionally contracted with the department or enrolled as

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Medicaid providers and that have engaged primarily in providing

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care to low-income individuals.

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     (c) Have a board of directors that includes a combination

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of substance abuse and mental health providers, as defined in

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chapters 394 and 397, including those that only serve a substance

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abusing or mentally ill population, as well as consumers, family

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members, and other community stakeholders.

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     (d) Submit a business plan that includes network program,

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financial, and operational plans.

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     (e) Have provider networks that include a mix of facilities

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and providers that cover the entire range of substance abuse and

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mental health services provided by the department, including

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acute services, crisis services, residential care, housing,

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recovery supports, and preventive services.

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     (f) Provide evidence that all providers in the same

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geographic area which have current contracts with the department

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have been offered a contract by the network.

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     (g) Provide evidence of a recovery and resiliency-based

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service mission.

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     (h) Offer self-directed, consumer, and family-oriented

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care, such as clubhouses and drop-in centers through its provider

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network.

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     (i) Demonstrate that program plans and operations reflect

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the preferences and recommendations of consumers, families, and

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community stakeholders.

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     (j) Demonstrate that all network-contracted providers are

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using one of the department's approved standardized assessment

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tools and that treatment plans are individualized and based on

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standardized assessments.

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     (k) Have providers that employ people with substance abuse

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and mental health disorders and offer consumer operated programs.

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     (l) Offer criminal justice diversionary services that

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comply with the criteria established for the Criminal Justice,

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Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Investment Grant program.

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     (m) Demonstrate sound financial management practices.

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     (n) Have comprehensive quality assurance and quality

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improvement programs.

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     (o) Have operational performance and outcome measurement

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systems.

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     (p) Have comprehensive accessible information system and

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data analysis capabilities meeting department standards.

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     (q) Demonstrate well-established relationships with their

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communities and written agreements with related health and social

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service agencies and programs such as, at a minimum, the child

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welfare-related community-based care agencies, hospitals and

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hospital emergency departments, other health care providers, law

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enforcement agencies, drug and mental health courts operating in

419

the area, juvenile justice agencies, and the schools.

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     (r) Promote the coordination of care of departmental and

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Medicaid recipients.

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     (s) Provide convenient and timely access to care.

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     (t) Meet such other criteria as the department specifies by

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rule.

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     (7) COMMUNITY-BASED NETWORK RESPONSIBILITIES.--The

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community-based networks shall be responsible for the following:

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     (a) Working with consumers, families, advocates, and

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referral agencies to identify community service needs.

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     (b) Reorganizing or developing services to meet priority

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unmet needs.

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     (c) Contracting with providers to build a comprehensive

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service network with staff that meet credentialing standards by

433

retaining traditional providers that meet minimum standards and,

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at the same time, expanding the range of consumer choice in

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services and providers.

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     (d) Establishing an organized and unified system of care

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that is easier for consumers to access and navigate.

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     (e) Developing systems of care that are able to link with

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other related systems including health, child welfare, criminal

440

justice, law enforcement, emergency services, education, economic

441

assistance, elder services, homeless programs, and other health,

442

social service, and public safety and criminal justice systems.

443

     (f) Ensuring that priority services are accessible

444

throughout the service area for each target population and that

445

linkages are in place so that clients can move easily through

446

various levels of care.

447

     (g) Providing outreach to substance abusing and mentally

448

ill individuals who need care.

449

     (h) Establishing uniform clinical policies based on

450

evidence-based practices.

451

     (i) Monitoring provider services to measure compliance with

452

standards and contractual requirements.

453

     (j) Establishing provider training programs and provider

454

information exchange processes to support improvements in quality

455

of care.

456

     (k) Building an information management system capable of

457

integrating clinical, fiscal, and management data and reporting

458

uniform client level and aggregate data to support performance

459

measurement and quality improvement initiatives.

460

     (l) Promoting cost-effective and appropriate care through

461

the use of utilization management techniques that, over time,

462

become internal to network provider agencies.

463

     (m) Fostering innovation in service delivery and technology

464

development among contracted agencies in order to increase

465

efficiency and effectiveness.

466

     (n) Coordinating network activities with other local

467

organizations managing substance abuse and mental health care, so

468

long as cost shifting does not occur.

469

     (o) Operating in the public interest by maximizing the

470

investment of public funds for the direct benefit of consumers,

471

maintaining a high level of consumer satisfaction, and re-

472

investing savings in new community services.

473

     (p) Consolidating the management functions of network

474

providers in order to reduce costs and maximize funding for

475

direct services, and promoting the economical use of limited

476

resources through measures such as group purchasing.

477

     (q) Routinely evaluating network services based on

478

consumer-centered outcome measures that reflect national and

479

state standards and the recommendations of stakeholders including

480

community agencies, consumers, and their families.

481

     (r) Monitoring network providers and ensuring that

482

monitoring results are used to improve both direct services and

483

administrative practices.

484

     (s) Working with consumers, advocates, and referral

485

agencies to identify community service needs.

486

     (8) MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS.--

487

     (a) To support the conversion of substance abuse and mental

488

health service delivery and financing to community-based

489

networks, the department shall coordinate the development and

490

implementation of statewide management information system

491

requirements and system linkages across community-based networks.

492

In developing system requirements, the department shall consider

493

the availability of, and the costs associated with, using

494

existing community-based network software and systems or those

495

that are operational in other states. The department shall also

496

consider the compatibility of existing software and systems with

497

the development of an integrated management information system

498

across community-based networks.

499

     (b) The management information systems implemented by a

500

community-based network must, at a minimum, include an integrated

501

service delivery information system that captures information on

502

individuals served through community-based networks, including

503

comprehensive consumer, provider, clinical, demographic,

504

performance, outcome, and financial information for all of the

505

substance abuse and mental health programs administered by the

506

network. The community-based network management information

507

systems must also be designed to promote efficient and effective

508

use of resources and ensure network accountability. The system

509

must contain, at a minimum, information essential for ongoing

510

administration of service delivery, monitoring, and outcome

511

measurement, and for making management decisions.

512

     (c) The department shall establish a data warehouse using

513

the data contained in the community-based network management

514

information systems and be able to provide nonconfidential data

515

to stakeholders for planning, monitoring, evaluation, and

516

research purposes. The department shall aggregate, on a quarterly

517

and an annual basis, the data provided into descriptive and

518

statistical reports that shall be disseminated through quarterly

519

and annual reports and placed on websites for use by interested

520

parties and disseminated to the Legislature.

521

     (d) The department shall provide an annual report to the

522

Legislature on the implementation and performance of the

523

community-based networks management information system. In

524

developing system requirements, the department shall report on

525

the availability of, and the costs associated with using,

526

existing community-based network software and systems or those

527

that are operational in other states. The department shall also

528

report on the compatibility of existing software and systems with

529

the development of an integrated management information system

530

across community-based networks. The report shall be submitted no

531

later than December 1 of each year.

532

     (e) In conjunction with the community-based networks, the

533

department shall develop its information system to track consumer

534

participation in substance abuse or mental health programs on a

535

timely basis and their involvement with other systems of care,

536

such as criminal justice, housing, and education, and shall share

537

this data with community-based networks.

538

     (9) DEPARTMENT CONTRACTING AND MONITORING OF COMMUNITY-

539

BASED NETWORKS.--The department shall adopt contract, monitoring,

540

and program policies and procedures for community-based service

541

networks. The policies and procedures adopted must minimize the

542

duplication of the department's and the community-based network's

543

monitoring activities.

544

     (a) The policies and procedures must, at a minimum, address

545

the evaluation of fiscal accountability and program operations

546

including achievement of performance standards, network

547

monitoring of subcontractors, and timely follow-up on monitoring

548

findings. The department shall recognize the national

549

accreditation of networks and their providers in determining the

550

extent of departmental monitoring.

551

     (b) The services of community-based networks contracting

552

with the department must be evaluated annually by the department.

553

The department shall use independent audits of financial and

554

service records provided by the network to eliminate or

555

significantly reduce contract and administrative reviews

556

conducted by the department. The department may suggest items to

557

be included in the independent audits to meet departmental needs.

558

     (c) Department contracts with the community-based networks

559

must:

560

     1. Include provisions that specify procedures to be used to

561

resolve differences in interpreting the contract or to resolve

562

disputes as to the adequacy of a party's compliance with its

563

obligations under the contract.

564

     2. Ensure payment to the network for reasonable

565

administrative costs in addition to reasonable funding for the

566

cost of delivering services. The department shall redirect

567

savings in departmental administrative costs to community-based

568

networks.

569

     3. Include performance and consumer outcome measures that

570

are adjusted annually to enable the department to meet its system

571

performance and outcome standards. The department shall establish

572

network performance measures, performance benchmarks and

573

standards, and consumer outcome measures and standards.

574

     (d) Contract monitoring shall be carried out by a single

575

contract monitoring unit located within the substance abuse and

576

mental health central office of the department.

577

     (e) In order to eliminate or significantly reduce the

578

number of inspections by various entities, the department shall

579

coordinate or consolidate its monitoring with surveys conducted

580

by other agencies.

581

     (10) SCHEDULE FOR NETWORK CONTRACTING.--During the

582

following 3-year implementation period, the department shall

583

enter into a multi-year contract with an existing or newly formed

584

community-based network in each departmentally designated area

585

for the provision, administration, and management of substance

586

abuse and mental health services in that area.

587

     (a) By March 2009, the department shall initiate a process

588

that gives the community-based networks in districts 1, 4 and 12,

589

11, and the Suncoast region the opportunity to contract with the

590

department as a community-based network for their service area.

591

These established community-based networks shall be given a

592

minimum of 90 days after the department publishes network

593

standards to prepare an application for designation as the

594

community-based network for a specified geographic area. If the

595

department determines after a review of the application that a

596

network's application and prior contractual history meet the

597

criteria established in this section, the department shall enter

598

into a contract with the community-based network on a sole source

599

basis. If the department determines that additional changes are

600

needed to comply with departmental requirements, the network

601

applicant shall be notified of the standards and criteria that it

602

fails to meet and given a minimum of 90 days to meet these

603

requirements in order to enter into a contract with the

604

department.

605

     (b) During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, in other areas of the

606

state where a single community-based network has formed that has

607

the governance structure and ownership capabilities specified for

608

community-based networks and that is determined by the department

609

to cover a sufficient geographical area to achieve the necessary

610

cost efficiencies, and there is no competing network in the same

611

area, the network shall be given the opportunity to contract as

612

the community-based network for that area, based on qualification

613

and negotiation of a noncompetitive contract. These community-

614

based networks shall be given a minimum of 90 days to submit an

615

application after the department notifies the respective areas

616

that it is accepting applications for qualification as a

617

community-based network. After review of an application, if the

618

department determines the network applicant complies with the

619

criteria specified in this section or meets these requirements

620

prior to execution of a contract, the department shall enter into

621

a contract with the network.

622

     (c) By the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the department

623

shall have entered into contracts in any remaining circuits

624

without a network, selecting the contractors through a

625

competitive procurement process.

626

     (11) MONITORING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH

627

SYSTEM REDESIGN.--The department shall contract with The Louis de

628

la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute to monitor and provide

629

technical assistance to community-based networks; assist in

630

developing network standards, qualification criteria, and

631

contracts; identify administrative funds eligible for transfer to

632

community-based networks; develop information system

633

requirements; set performance and consumer outcome measures;

634

conduct stakeholder surveys during the transition process; and

635

identify best and promising practices. Reports of these

636

activities and reviews must be submitted to the Legislature on

637

March 1 and September 1 of each year until full transition to

638

community-based management has been accomplished statewide,

639

except that the first report must be submitted by February 1,

640

2009, and address all readiness activities undertaken through

641

November 30, 2008. The perspectives of all participants in the

642

review process must be included in each report.

643

     (12) INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND

644

MENTAL HEALTH.--

645

     (a) The Executive Office of the Governor shall establish an

646

Interagency Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse and Mental

647

Health to advise the department as the single state authority for

648

provision of publicly funded services.

649

     (b) The committee shall be comprised of the heads, or their

650

designees, of the Agency for Health Care Administration, the

651

Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Department of Corrections,

652

the Department of Elderly Affairs, the Department of Health, the

653

Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Law

654

Enforcement, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of

655

Education or a representative of the Department of Education, and

656

a representative of the Office of Drug Control.

657

     (c) The committee shall meet at least quarterly to develop

658

a plan for improving the coordination and integration of

659

substance abuse and mental health programs administered by

660

various state agencies. The plan shall address the coordination

661

of consumer eligibility, funded services, contract

662

specifications, performance and outcome measures and procedures,

663

joint or collaborative purchasing, and an integrated data system

664

for performance reporting in order to maximize cost-effective

665

provision of services, agency performance, and consumer outcomes.

666

Each committee member shall propose plans and a schedule for the

667

transition of state agency contracting to a common contracting

668

entity or otherwise promoting collaborative purchasing using

669

braided or integrated funding approaches so that available state

670

and federal funds can be matched to consumer needs by the

671

community-based networks. The plan must be submitted to the

672

Governor by December 2009. The committee shall expire upon the

673

submission of the plan.

674

     (13) RULES.--The department shall adopt rules to administer

675

this section and, as necessary, to further specify requirements

676

of community-based networks.

677

     Section 2. Section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

678

     Section 3. The Department of Financial Services and the

679

Department of Management Services shall provide the Department of

680

Children and Family Services with the flexibility necessary to

681

implement this act.

682

     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.