Florida Senate - 2025                      CS for CS for SB 1240
       
       
        
       By the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services;
       the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
       Senator Calatayud
       
       
       
       603-03590-25                                          20251240c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to substance abuse and mental health
    3         care; amending s. 394.4573, F.S.; expanding mental
    4         health crisis services to include the 988 suicide and
    5         crisis lifeline call center; amending s. 394.4598,
    6         F.S.; authorizing the guardian advocate to be
    7         discharged when a patient is discharged from
    8         involuntary outpatient services; amending s. 394.4625,
    9         F.S.; requiring clinical psychologists who make
   10         determinations of involuntary placement at certain
   11         mental health facilities to have specified clinical
   12         experience; amending s. 394.463, F.S.; revising the
   13         timeframe within which a receiving facility must take
   14         certain actions after the attending physician of a
   15         patient being involuntarily examined documents certain
   16         information about the patient’s medical condition;
   17         revising a required action; amending s. 394.4655,
   18         F.S.; providing a cross-reference for specified
   19         criteria relating to orders to involuntary outpatient
   20         placement; amending s. 394.467, F.S.; revising the
   21         definition of the term “court”; providing that orders
   22         entered by administrative law judges for continued
   23         involuntary placement for patients at certain mental
   24         health facilities are final and subject to judicial
   25         review; requiring that hearings on petitions for
   26         certain continued involuntary services be scheduled
   27         immediately; requiring the clerk of the Division of
   28         Administrative Hearings to provide copies of petitions
   29         and individualized plans for continued services to the
   30         Department of Children and Families and other
   31         specified individuals; requiring the court or the
   32         administrative law judge to make certain
   33         determinations before waiving a patient’s attendance
   34         at a hearing for continued involuntary placement;
   35         authorizing an administrative law judge to issue an
   36         order for involuntary services if the patient meets
   37         certain criteria; amending s. 394.67, F.S.; defining
   38         the term “988 suicide and crisis lifeline call
   39         center”; revising the definition of “crisis services”
   40         to include a 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call
   41         center; creating s. 394.9088, F.S.; requiring the
   42         department to authorize and provide oversight of the
   43         988 suicide and crisis lifeline call centers;
   44         authorizing the department to take certain actions for
   45         failure to comply with certain provisions; requiring
   46         the department to adopt specified rules; amending s.
   47         397.427, F.S.; deleting requirements relating to
   48         providers of medication-assisted treatment services
   49         for opiate addiction; amending s. 916.111, F.S.;
   50         revising training requirements for mental health
   51         professionals; amending s. 916.115, F.S.; requiring
   52         certain court-appointed experts to have completed
   53         specified training and continued education; amending
   54         s. 916.12, F.S.; providing requirements for an
   55         examining expert to determine acceptable treatments
   56         available in a community; amending ss. 394.674,
   57         394.74, and 397.68141 F.S.; conforming cross
   58         references; providing an effective date.
   59          
   60  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   61  
   62         Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
   63  394.4573, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   64         394.4573 Coordinated system of care; annual assessment;
   65  essential elements; measures of performance; system improvement
   66  grants; reports.—On or before December 1 of each year, the
   67  department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
   68  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an
   69  assessment of the behavioral health services in this state. The
   70  assessment shall consider, at a minimum, the extent to which
   71  designated receiving systems function as no-wrong-door models,
   72  the availability of treatment and recovery services that use
   73  recovery-oriented and peer-involved approaches, the availability
   74  of less-restrictive services, and the use of evidence-informed
   75  practices. The assessment shall also consider the availability
   76  of and access to coordinated specialty care programs and
   77  identify any gaps in the availability of and access to such
   78  programs in the state. The department’s assessment shall
   79  consider, at a minimum, the needs assessments conducted by the
   80  managing entities pursuant to s. 394.9082(5). The department
   81  shall compile and include in the report all plans submitted by
   82  managing entities pursuant to s. 394.9082(8) and the
   83  department’s evaluation of each plan.
   84         (2) The essential elements of a coordinated system of care
   85  include:
   86         (d) Crisis services, including the 988 suicide and crisis
   87  lifeline call center, mobile response teams, crisis
   88  stabilization units, addiction receiving facilities, and
   89  detoxification facilities.
   90         Section 2. Subsection (8) of section 394.4598, Florida
   91  Statutes, are amended to read:
   92         394.4598 Guardian advocate.—
   93         (8) The guardian advocate shall be discharged when the
   94  patient is discharged from an order for involuntary outpatient
   95  services placement or involuntary inpatient placement or when
   96  the patient is transferred from involuntary to voluntary status.
   97  The court or a hearing officer shall consider the competence of
   98  the patient pursuant to subsection (1) and may consider an
   99  involuntarily placed patient’s competence to consent to
  100  treatment at any hearing. Upon sufficient evidence, the court
  101  may restore, or the hearing officer may recommend that the court
  102  restore, the patient’s competence. A copy of the order restoring
  103  competence or the certificate of discharge containing the
  104  restoration of competence shall be provided to the patient and
  105  the guardian advocate.
  106         Section 3. Subsection (5) of section 394.4625, Florida
  107  Statutes, is amended to read:
  108         394.4625 Voluntary admissions.—
  109         (5) TRANSFER TO INVOLUNTARY STATUS.—When a voluntary
  110  patient, or an authorized person on the patient’s behalf, makes
  111  a request for discharge, the request for discharge, unless
  112  freely and voluntarily rescinded, must be communicated to a
  113  physician, a clinical psychologist with at least 3 years of
  114  clinical postdoctoral experience in the practice of clinical
  115  psychology, or a psychiatrist as quickly as possible, but not
  116  later than 12 hours after the request is made. If the patient
  117  meets the criteria for involuntary placement, the administrator
  118  of the facility must file with the court a petition for
  119  involuntary placement, within 2 court working days after the
  120  request for discharge is made. If the petition is not filed
  121  within 2 court working days, the patient must be discharged.
  122  Pending the filing of the petition, the patient may be held and
  123  emergency treatment rendered in the least restrictive manner,
  124  upon the order of a physician or a psychiatric nurse practicing
  125  within the framework of an established protocol with a
  126  psychiatrist, if it is determined that such treatment is
  127  necessary for the safety of the patient or others.
  128         Section 4. Paragraph (i) of subsection (2) of section
  129  394.463, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  130         394.463 Involuntary examination.—
  131         (2) INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION.—
  132         (i) One of the following must occur within 24 12 hours
  133  after the patient’s attending physician documents that the
  134  patient’s medical condition has stabilized or that an emergency
  135  medical condition does not exist:
  136         1. The patient must be examined by a facility and released;
  137  or
  138         2. The patient must be accepted for transfer transferred to
  139  a designated facility in which appropriate medical treatment is
  140  available. However, the facility must be notified of the
  141  transfer within 12 2 hours after the patient’s condition has
  142  been stabilized or after determination that an emergency medical
  143  condition does not exist.
  144         Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 394.4655, Florida
  145  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) is added to that
  146  section, to read:
  147         394.4655 Orders to involuntary outpatient placement.—
  148         (2) A court or a county court may order an individual to
  149  involuntary outpatient placement under s. 394.467. The criteria
  150  for ordering a person to involuntary outpatient placement, as
  151  well as all of the requirements and processes for placement,
  152  including, but not limited to, recommendations for involuntary
  153  outpatient placement, petitions, appointment of counsel, and
  154  hearings on involuntary outpatient placement, are provided in s.
  155  394.467.
  156         (3)When recommending an order to involuntary outpatient
  157  placement, the petitioner, as defined in s. 394.467(4), shall
  158  prepare a services plan for the patient in accordance with s.
  159  394.467.
  160         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
  161  (11) of section 394.467, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  162         394.467 Involuntary inpatient placement and involuntary
  163  outpatient services.—
  164         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
  165         (a) “Court” means a circuit court or, for commitments only
  166  to involuntary outpatient services as defined in s. 394.4655, a
  167  county court.
  168         (11) PROCEDURE FOR CONTINUED INVOLUNTARY SERVICES.—
  169         (a) A petition for continued involuntary services must be
  170  filed if the patient continues to meet meets the criteria for
  171  involuntary services.
  172         (b)1. If a patient receiving involuntary outpatient
  173  services continues to meet the criteria for involuntary
  174  outpatient services, the service provider must file in the court
  175  that issued the initial order for involuntary outpatient
  176  services a petition for continued involuntary outpatient
  177  services.
  178         2. If a patient in involuntary inpatient placement
  179  continues to meet the criteria for involuntary services and is
  180  being treated at a receiving facility, the administrator must,
  181  before the expiration of the period the receiving facility is
  182  authorized to retain the patient, file in the court that issued
  183  the initial order for involuntary inpatient placement, a
  184  petition requesting authorization for continued involuntary
  185  services. The administrator may petition for inpatient or
  186  outpatient services.
  187         3. If a patient in involuntary inpatient placement
  188  continues to meet the criteria for involuntary services and is
  189  being treated at a treatment facility, the administrator must,
  190  before expiration of the period the treatment facility is
  191  authorized to retain the patient, file a petition requesting
  192  authorization for continued involuntary services. The
  193  administrator may petition for inpatient or outpatient services.
  194  Hearings on petitions for continued involuntary services of an
  195  individual placed at any treatment facility are administrative
  196  hearings and must be conducted in accordance with s. 120.57(1),
  197  except that any order entered by the administrative law judge is
  198  final and subject to judicial review in accordance with s.
  199  120.68. Orders concerning patients committed after successfully
  200  pleading not guilty by reason of insanity are governed by s.
  201  916.15.
  202         4. The court shall immediately schedule A hearing on the
  203  petition shall to be scheduled immediately and held within 15
  204  days after the petition is filed.
  205         5. The existing involuntary services order shall remain in
  206  effect until disposition on the petition for continued
  207  involuntary services.
  208         (c) The petition must be accompanied by a statement from
  209  the patient’s physician, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, or
  210  clinical psychologist justifying the request, a brief
  211  description of the patient’s treatment during the time he or she
  212  was receiving involuntary services, and an individualized plan
  213  of continued treatment developed in consultation with the
  214  patient or the patient’s guardian advocate, if applicable. If
  215  the petition is for involuntary outpatient services, it must
  216  comply with the requirements of subparagraph (4)(d)3. When the
  217  petition has been filed, the clerk of the court or the clerk of
  218  the Division of Administrative Hearings, as applicable, shall
  219  provide copies of the petition and the individualized plan of
  220  continued services to the department, the patient, the patient’s
  221  guardian advocate, the state attorney, and the patient’s private
  222  counsel or the public defender.
  223         (d) The court shall appoint counsel to represent the person
  224  who is the subject of the petition for continued involuntary
  225  services in accordance with the provisions set forth in
  226  subsection (5), unless the person is otherwise represented by
  227  counsel or ineligible.
  228         (e) Hearings on petitions for continued involuntary
  229  outpatient services must be before the court that issued the
  230  order for involuntary outpatient services. However, the patient
  231  and the patient’s attorney may agree to a period of continued
  232  outpatient services without a court hearing.
  233         (f) Hearings on petitions for continued involuntary
  234  inpatient placement in receiving facilities, or involuntary
  235  outpatient services following involuntary inpatient services,
  236  must be held in the county or the facility, as appropriate,
  237  where the patient is located.
  238         (g) The court may appoint a magistrate to preside at the
  239  hearing. The procedures for obtaining an order pursuant to this
  240  paragraph must meet the requirements of subsection (7).
  241         (h) Notice of the hearing must be provided as set forth in
  242  s. 394.4599.
  243         (i) If a patient’s attendance at the hearing is voluntarily
  244  waived, the court or the administrative law judge must determine
  245  that the patient knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
  246  waived his or her right to be present, before waiving the
  247  presence of the patient from all or a portion of the hearing.
  248  Alternatively, if at the hearing the court or the administrative
  249  law judge finds that attendance at the hearing is not consistent
  250  with the best interests of the patient, the court or the
  251  administrative law judge may waive the presence of the patient
  252  from all or any portion of the hearing, unless the patient,
  253  through counsel, objects to the waiver of presence. The
  254  testimony in the hearing must be under oath, and the proceedings
  255  must be recorded.
  256         (j) If at a hearing it is shown that the patient continues
  257  to meet the criteria for involuntary services, the court or the
  258  administrative law judge shall issue an order for continued
  259  involuntary outpatient services, involuntary inpatient
  260  placement, or a combination of involuntary services for up to 6
  261  months. The same procedure shall be repeated before the
  262  expiration of each additional period the patient is retained.
  263         (k) If the patient has been ordered to undergo involuntary
  264  services and has previously been found incompetent to consent to
  265  treatment, the court shall consider testimony and evidence
  266  regarding the patient’s competence. If the patient’s competency
  267  to consent to treatment is restored, the discharge of the
  268  guardian advocate is governed by s. 394.4598. If the patient has
  269  been ordered to undergo involuntary inpatient placement only and
  270  the patient’s competency to consent to treatment is restored,
  271  the administrative law judge may issue a recommended order, to
  272  the court that found the patient incompetent to consent to
  273  treatment, that the patient’s competence be restored and that
  274  any guardian advocate previously appointed be discharged.
  275         (l) If continued involuntary inpatient placement is
  276  necessary for a patient in involuntary inpatient placement who
  277  was admitted while serving a criminal sentence, but his or her
  278  sentence is about to expire, or for a minor involuntarily
  279  placed, but who is about to reach the age of 18, the
  280  administrator shall petition the administrative law judge for an
  281  order authorizing continued involuntary inpatient placement.
  282  
  283  The procedure required in this subsection must be followed
  284  before the expiration of each additional period the patient is
  285  involuntarily receiving services.
  286         Section 7. Present subsections (1) through (25) of section
  287  394.67, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (2)
  288  through (26), respectively, a new subsection (1) is added to
  289  that section, and subsection (4) of that section is amended, to
  290  read:
  291         394.67 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
  292         (1)“988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center” means a
  293  call center meeting national accreditation and recognized by the
  294  department to receive 988 calls, texts, or other forms of
  295  communication in this state.
  296         (4) “Crisis services” means short-term evaluation,
  297  stabilization, and brief intervention services provided to a
  298  person who is experiencing an acute mental or emotional crisis,
  299  as defined in subsection (19) (18), or an acute substance abuse
  300  crisis, as defined in subsection (20) (19), to prevent further
  301  deterioration of the person’s mental health. Crisis services are
  302  provided in settings such as a crisis stabilization unit, an
  303  inpatient unit, a short-term residential treatment program, a
  304  detoxification facility, or an addictions receiving facility; at
  305  the site of the crisis by a mobile crisis response team; or at a
  306  hospital on an outpatient basis; or telephonically by a 988
  307  suicide and crisis lifeline call center.
  308         Section 8. Section 394.9088, Florida Statutes, is created
  309  to read:
  310         394.9088988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center.—
  311         (1)The department shall authorize and provide oversight to
  312  988 suicide and crisis lifeline call centers. Unless authorized
  313  by the department, call centers are not permitted to conduct 988
  314  suicide and crisis lifeline services. The department may
  315  implement a corrective action plan, suspension, or revocation of
  316  authorization for failure to comply with this section and rules
  317  adopted under this section.
  318         (2)The department shall adopt rules relating to:
  319         (a)The process for authorization of 988 suicide and crisis
  320  lifeline call centers.
  321         (b)Minimum standards for 988 suicide and crisis lifeline
  322  call centers to be authorized, including but not limited to,
  323  service delivery, quality of care, and performance outcomes.
  324         (c)The adequacy and consistency of 988 suicide and crisis
  325  lifeline call centers’ personnel certifications, accreditations,
  326  quality assurance standards, and minimum training standards.
  327         (d)Implementation of a cohesive statewide plan for 988
  328  suicide and crisis lifeline call centers to achieve statewide
  329  interoperability with the 911 system and to provide individuals
  330  with rapid and direct access to the appropriate care.
  331         Section 9. Present subsections (3) through (9) of section
  332  397.427, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (2)
  333  through (8), respectively, and present subsections (2) and (5)
  334  of that section are amended, to read:
  335         397.427 Medication-assisted treatment service providers;
  336  rehabilitation program; needs assessment and provision of
  337  services; persons authorized to issue takeout medication;
  338  unlawful operation; penalty.—
  339         (2)The department shall determine the need for
  340  establishing providers of medication-assisted treatment services
  341  for opiate addiction.
  342         (a)Providers of medication-assisted treatment services for
  343  opiate addiction may be established only in response to the
  344  department’s determination and publication of need for
  345  additional medication treatment services.
  346         (b)If needs assessment is required, the department shall
  347  annually conduct the assessment and publish a statement of
  348  findings which identifies each substate entity’s need.
  349         (c)Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), the license for
  350  medication-assisted treatment programs for opiate addiction
  351  licensed before October 1, 1990, may not be revoked solely
  352  because of the department’s determination concerning the need
  353  for medication-assisted treatment services for opiate addiction.
  354         (4)(5)The department shall also determine the need for
  355  establishing medication-assisted treatment for substance use
  356  disorders other than opiate dependence. Service providers within
  357  the publicly funded system shall be funded for provision of
  358  these services based on the availability of funds.
  359         Section 10. Section 916.111, Florida Statutes, is amended
  360  to read:
  361         916.111 Training of mental health experts.—The evaluation
  362  of defendants for competency to proceed or for sanity at the
  363  time of the commission of the offense shall be conducted in such
  364  a way as to ensure uniform application of the criteria
  365  enumerated in Rules 3.210 and 3.216, Florida Rules of Criminal
  366  Procedure. The department shall develop, and may contract with
  367  accredited institutions:
  368         (1) To provide:
  369         (a) A plan for training mental health professionals to
  370  perform forensic evaluations and to standardize the criteria and
  371  procedures to be used in these evaluations;
  372         (b) Clinical protocols and procedures based upon the
  373  criteria of Rules 3.210 and 3.216, Florida Rules of Criminal
  374  Procedure; and
  375         (c) Training for mental health professionals in the
  376  application of these protocols and procedures in performing
  377  forensic evaluations and providing reports to the courts.
  378  Training must include, but not be limited to, information on
  379  statutes and rules related to competency restoration, evidence
  380  based practices, and least restrictive treatment alternatives
  381  and placement options as described in s. 916.12(4)(c); and
  382         (2) To compile and maintain the necessary information for
  383  evaluating the success of this program, including the number of
  384  persons trained, the cost of operating the program, and the
  385  effect on the quality of forensic evaluations as measured by
  386  appropriateness of admissions to state forensic facilities and
  387  to community-based care programs.
  388         Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 916.115, Florida
  389  Statutes, is amended to read:
  390         916.115 Appointment of experts.—
  391         (1) The court shall appoint no more than three experts to
  392  determine the mental condition of a defendant in a criminal
  393  case, including competency to proceed, insanity, involuntary
  394  placement, and treatment. The experts may evaluate the defendant
  395  in jail or in another appropriate local facility or in a
  396  facility of the Department of Corrections.
  397         (a) The court-appointed To the extent possible, The
  398  appointed experts shall:
  399         1.have completed forensic evaluator training approved by
  400  the department, and each shall Be a psychiatrist, licensed
  401  psychologist, or physician.
  402         2.Have completed initial and ongoing forensic evaluator
  403  training, provided by the department.
  404         3.If performing juvenile evaluations, annually complete
  405  juvenile forensic competency evaluation training approved by the
  406  department.
  407         (b)Existing evaluators shall complete department-provided
  408  continuing education training by July 1, 2026, to remain active
  409  on the list.
  410         (c)(b) The department shall maintain and annually provide
  411  the courts with a list of available mental health professionals
  412  who have completed the initial and annual approved training as
  413  experts.
  414         Section 12. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
  415  916.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  416         916.12 Mental competence to proceed.—
  417         (4) If an expert finds that the defendant is incompetent to
  418  proceed, the expert shall report on any recommended treatment
  419  for the defendant to attain competence to proceed. In
  420  considering the issues relating to treatment, the examining
  421  expert shall specifically report on:
  422         (d) The availability of acceptable treatment and, if
  423  treatment is available in the community, the expert shall so
  424  state in the report. In determining what acceptable treatments
  425  are available in the community, the expert shall, at a minimum,
  426  use current information or resources on less restrictive
  427  treatment alternatives, as described in paragraph (c), and those
  428  obtained from training and continuing education approved by the
  429  department.
  430  
  431  The examining expert’s report to the court shall include a full
  432  and detailed explanation regarding why the alternative treatment
  433  options referenced in the evaluation are insufficient to meet
  434  the needs of the defendant.
  435         Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  436  394.674, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  437         394.674 Eligibility for publicly funded substance abuse and
  438  mental health services; fee collection requirements.—
  439         (1) To be eligible to receive substance abuse and mental
  440  health services funded by the department, an individual must be
  441  a member of at least one of the department’s priority
  442  populations approved by the Legislature. The priority
  443  populations include:
  444         (a) For adult mental health services:
  445         1. Adults who have severe and persistent mental illness, as
  446  designated by the department using criteria that include
  447  severity of diagnosis, duration of the mental illness, ability
  448  to independently perform activities of daily living, and receipt
  449  of disability income for a psychiatric condition. Included
  450  within this group are:
  451         a. Older adults in crisis.
  452         b. Older adults who are at risk of being placed in a more
  453  restrictive environment because of their mental illness.
  454         c. Persons deemed incompetent to proceed or not guilty by
  455  reason of insanity under chapter 916.
  456         d. Other persons involved in the criminal justice system.
  457         e. Persons diagnosed as having co-occurring mental illness
  458  and substance abuse disorders.
  459         2. Persons who are experiencing an acute mental or
  460  emotional crisis as defined in s. 394.67 s. 394.67(18).
  461         Section 14. Subsection (3) of section 394.74, Florida
  462  Statutes, is amended to read:
  463         394.74 Contracts for provision of local substance abuse and
  464  mental health programs.—
  465         (3) Contracts shall include, but are not limited to:
  466         (a) A provision that, within the limits of available
  467  resources, substance abuse and mental health crisis services, as
  468  defined in s. 394.67 s. 394.67(4), shall be available to any
  469  individual residing or employed within the service area,
  470  regardless of ability to pay for such services, current or past
  471  health condition, or any other factor;
  472         (b) A provision that such services be available with
  473  priority of attention being given to individuals who exhibit
  474  symptoms of chronic or acute substance abuse or mental illness
  475  and who are unable to pay the cost of receiving such services;
  476         (c) A provision that every reasonable effort to collect
  477  appropriate reimbursement for the cost of providing substance
  478  abuse and mental health services to persons able to pay for
  479  services, including first-party payments and third-party
  480  payments, shall be made by facilities providing services
  481  pursuant to this act;
  482         (d) A program description and line-item operating budget by
  483  program service component for substance abuse and mental health
  484  services, provided the entire proposed operating budget for the
  485  service provider will be displayed;
  486         (e) A provision that client demographic, service, and
  487  outcome information required for the department’s Mental Health
  488  and Substance Abuse Data System be submitted to the department
  489  by a date specified in the contract. The department may not pay
  490  the provider unless the required information has been submitted
  491  by the specified date; and
  492         (f) A requirement that the contractor must conform to
  493  department rules and the priorities established thereunder.
  494         Section 15. Subsection (3) of section 397.68141, Florida
  495  Statutes, is amended to read:
  496         397.68141 Contents of petition for involuntary treatment
  497  services.—A petition for involuntary services must contain the
  498  name of the respondent; the name of the petitioner; the
  499  relationship between the respondent and the petitioner; the name
  500  of the respondent’s attorney, if known; and the factual
  501  allegations presented by the petitioner establishing the need
  502  for involuntary services for substance abuse impairment.
  503         (3) If there is an emergency, the petition must also
  504  describe the respondent’s exigent circumstances and include a
  505  request for an ex parte assessment and stabilization order that
  506  must be executed pursuant to s. 397.6818 s. 397.68151.
  507         Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.