Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1394
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       22-00928-24                                           20241394__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to mental health; amending s. 394.495,
    3         F.S.; requiring the Department of Children and
    4         Families to contract with managing entities to provide
    5         community mobile support teams; providing the purpose
    6         of the community mobile support teams; providing
    7         requirements for support team crisis counselors;
    8         providing requirements for managing entities in
    9         creating the community mobile support teams; providing
   10         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 entities
   19  for community mobile support teams throughout this state to
   20  place crisis counselors from community mental health centers
   21  within local law enforcement agencies to conduct follow-up
   22  contacts with children, adolescents, and adults who have been
   23  involuntarily committed under the Baker Act by a law enforcement
   24  officer. The purpose of the community mobile support teams
   25  through their partnerships with law enforcement is to reduce
   26  recidivism of law enforcement Baker Act commitments, reduce the
   27  time burden of law enforcement completing follow-up work with
   28  individuals after they have been subject to treatment under the
   29  Baker Act, provide additional crisis intervention services,
   30  engage individuals in ongoing mental health care, and provide a
   31  source for mental health crisis intervention other than law
   32  enforcement.
   33         (b) A community mobile support team crisis counselor shall,
   34  at a minimum:
   35         1. Reach out to individuals who may need additional mental
   36  health support following commitment under the Baker Act.
   37         2. Conduct home visits to assist individuals in connecting
   38  with appropriate aftercare services in their community following
   39  their release from a mental health facility.
   40         3. Provide support to the individuals during the transition
   41  period from their Baker Act release to connection with aftercare
   42  services.
   43         4. Provide brief crisis counseling and assessment for
   44  additional needs.
   45         (c) When creating a community mobile support team, the
   46  managing entity must, at a minimum:
   47         1. Collaborate with local law enforcement agencies in the
   48  planning, development, evaluation, and selection processes.
   49         2. Require that services be made available 7 days a week.
   50         3. Require the provider to establish independent response
   51  protocols and memoranda of understanding with local law
   52  enforcement agencies.
   53         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.