HB 1309 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1309-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to community mobile support teams; 2
amending s. 394.495, F.S.; requiring the Department of 3
Children and Families to contract with managing 4
entities for community mobile support teams to place 5
certain crisis counselors within local law enforcement 6
agencies to conduct follow -up contacts with certain 7
persons; providing requirements for crisis counselors, 8
community mobile support teams, and certa in community 9
mental health centers; providing an effective date. 10
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. Subsection (8) is added to section 394.495, 14
Florida Statutes, to read: 15
394.495 Child and adolescent mental hea lth system of care; 16
programs and services. — 17
(8)(a) The department shall contract with managing 18
entities for community mobile support teams throughout the state 19
to place crisis counselors from community mental health centers 20
in local law enforcement agenc ies. The counselors shall conduct 21
follow-up contacts with children, adolescents, and adults who 22
have been involuntarily committed under the Baker Act by a law 23
enforcement officer. The goal of the community mobile support 24
team through its partnership with l aw enforcement is to reduce 25
HB 1309 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1309-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
recidivism of involuntary commitments under the Baker Act by law 26
enforcement, reduce the time burden of law enforcement 27
completing follow-up work with persons after commitment under 28
the Baker Act, provide additional crisis inter vention services, 29
assist persons with engagement in mental health care, and give 30
persons another option for mental health crisis intervention 31
other than the use of law enforcement. 32
(b) A community mobile support team crisis counselor 33
shall, at a minimum: 34
1. Provide follow-up care to individuals in the community 35
that law enforcement has identified as needing additional mental 36
health support. 37
2. Conduct home visits to assist a person with connecting 38
with the appropriate aftercare services in his or her community 39
following his or her discharge from a Baker Act receiving 40
facility. 41
3. Provide support to aid a person during the transition 42
period from his or her release from commitment under the Baker 43
Act to connection with aftercare services. 44
4. Provide brief crisis counseling and assessment for 45
additional needs. 46
(c) A community mobile support team shall offer, at a 47
minimum, all of the following services: 48
1. Crisis assessment. 49
2. Community-based crisis counseling. 50
HB 1309 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1309-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3. In-person, follow-up care after involuntary commitment 51
under the Baker Act by a law enforcement officer. 52
4. Assistance with accessing and engaging in aftercare 53
services. 54
5. Assistance with obtaining other necessary community 55
resources to maintain stability. 56
6. Coordination of safety planning. 57
(d) A community mental health center contracted by a 58
managing entity to provide a community mobile support team must: 59
1. Collaborate with local law enforcement offices in the 60
planning, development, and program evaluation processes. 61
2. Require that services be made available 7 days a week. 62
3. Establish independent response protocols and 63
memorandums of understanding with local law enforcement 64
agencies. 65
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 66