Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1357 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 1357 2024
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1357-00
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10	10	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
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to mental health education and 2
16	16	training; providing a short title; creating s. 3
17	17	394.4996, F.S.; requiring persons working in roles 4
18	18	involving direct interaction with youth to undergo 5
19	19	mental health education and training; providing 6
20	20	requirements for such education and training; 7
21	21	encouraging persons who work with youth to prioritize 8
22	22	their own mental health and well -being and their 9
23	23	employers to provide resources and support; requiring 10
24	24	the Department of Children and Families to establish 11
25	25	and maintain dedicated spaces within certain 12
26	26	institutions, centers, and venues that are easily 13
27	27	accessible to youth for the dissemination of 14
28	28	information and resources relating to mental health; 15
29	29	providing that the department, in collaboration with 16
30	30	relative agencies, is responsible for implementation 17
31	31	and enforcement of the act; providing for penalties; 18
32	32	providing for funding; providing an effective date. 19
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34	34	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21
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36	36	Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Butler Act." 23
37	37	Section 2. Section 394.4996, Florida Statutes, is created 24
38	38	to read: 25
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40	40	HB 1357 2024
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44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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47	47	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
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51	51	394.4996 Mental health education and training. — 26
52	52	(1) All persons work ing in roles involving direct 27
53	53	interaction with youth as defined in s. 381.84(1), including, 28
54	54	but not limited to, educators, counselors, mentors, and coaches, 29
55	55	shall undergo mental health education and training. The 30
56	56	education and training shall include: 31
57	57	(a) The recognition of signs and symptoms of mental health 32
58	58	issues in youth, appropriate methods for providing assistance 33
59	59	and support, and guidelines for referring youth to qualified 34
60	60	mental health professionals when necessary. 35
61	61	(b) Specialized training in eff ectively and respectfully 36
62	62	interacting with youth by emphasizing active listening to the 37
63	63	voices and perspectives of youth, respecting their rights and 38
64	64	dignity, and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. 39
65	65	(2) Persons who work with youth are encou raged to 40
66	66	prioritize their own mental health and well -being and employers 41
67	67	of persons who work with youth should provide resources and 42
68	68	support for their mental health needs. 43
69	69	(3) The department shall establish and maintain dedicated 44
70	70	spaces within educationa l institutions, community centers, and 45
71	71	other youth-centric venues for the dissemination of information 46
72	72	and resources related to mental health. The spaces shall be 47
73	73	easily accessible to youth and shall be promoted to ensure that 48
74	74	youth are aware of the availa ble mental health resources. 49
75	75	(4) The department, in collaboration with relevant 50
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81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb1357-00
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84	84	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
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88	88	agencies, shall be responsible for the implementation and 51
89	89	enforcement of this act. A violation of this section may result 52
90	90	in penalties, training requirements, or other approp riate 53
91	91	measures as determined by department rule. 54
92	92	(5) Funding for the implementation of this section shall 55
93	93	be allocated from state funds and supplemented by federal grants 56
94	94	and private-sector partnerships, as necessary. 57
95	95	Section 3. This act shall take e ffect July 1, 2024. 58