| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to electronic transmittal of court 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | orders; amending s. 394.463, F.S.; requiring the clerk 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | of the court, within 6 hours after a court issues an 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | ex parte order for involuntary commitment, to submit 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | the order electronically to the sheriff or l aw 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | enforcement agency in the county where the order is to 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | be served; amending s. 397.68151, F.S.; requiring the 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | clerk of the court, within 6 hours after a certain 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | summons is issued, to submit the summons 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | electronically and, if applicable, a copy of the 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | petition for involuntary services and a notice of the 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | hearing to a law enforcement agency to effect service 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | on certain persons; amending s. 790.401, F.S.; 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | requiring the clerk of the court to transmit 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | electronically, within a certain timeframe after the 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | court issues a risk protection order and notice of 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | hearing, a copy of the order, notice of hearing, 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | petition to the appropriate law enforcement agency for 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | service upon the respondent; requiring the clerk of 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | the court to transmit electronically, within a certain 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | timeframe after the court issues a temporary ex parte 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | risk protection order or risk protection order, a copy 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | of the notice of hearing, petition, and temporary ex 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | parte risk protection order or risk protection order, 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 9 |
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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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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | as applicable, to the sheriff; requiring that an 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | electronic copy of a temporary ex parte risk 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | protection order or a risk protection order be 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | certified by the clerk of the court and that the 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | electronic copy be served in the same manner as the 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | certified copy; providing an effective date. 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | 394.463, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | 394.463 Involuntary examination. — 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | (2) INVOLUNTARY EXAMINATION. — 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | (a) An involuntary examina tion may be initiated by any one 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | of the following means: 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | 1. A circuit or county court may enter an ex parte order 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | stating that a person appears to meet the criteria for 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | involuntary examination and specifying the findings on which 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | that conclusion is based . The ex parte order for involuntary 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | examination must be based on written or oral sworn testimony 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | that includes specific facts that support the findings. If other 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | less restrictive means are not available, such as voluntary 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | appearance for outpatient evaluat ion, a law enforcement officer, 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | or other designated agent of the court, must shall take the 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | person into custody and deliver him or her to an appropriate, or 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 9 |
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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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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | the nearest, facility within the designated receiving system 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | pursuant to s. 394.462 for involuntary examination. The order of 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | the court must shall be made a part of the patient's clinical 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | record. A fee may not be charged for the filing of an order 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | under this subsection. A facility accepting the patient based on 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | this order must send a copy of the order t o the department 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | within 5 working days. Within 6 hours after the court issues an 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | order, the clerk of the court shall electronically submit the 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | order to the sheriff or a law enforcement agency in the county 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | where the order is to be served may be submitted electronically 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | through existing data systems, if available . The order is shall 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | be valid only until the person is delivered to the facility or 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | for the period specified in the order itself, whichever comes 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | first. If a time limit is not specified in the order, the order 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | is valid for 7 days after the date that the order was signed. 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | 2. A law enforcement officer may take a person who appears 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | to meet the criteria for involuntary examination into custody 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | and deliver the person or have him or her delivered to an 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | appropriate, or the nearest, facility within the designated 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | receiving system pursuant to s. 394.462 for examination. A law 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | enforcement officer transporting a person pursuant to this 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | section shall restrain the person in the least restrictive 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | manner available and appropriate under the circumstances. If 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | transporting a minor and the parent or legal guardian of the 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | minor is present, before departing, the law enforcement officer 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 9 |
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| 121 | 121 | | 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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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | must shall provide the parent or legal guardian of the minor 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | with the name, address, an d contact information for the facility 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | within the designated receiving system to which the law 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | enforcement officer is transporting the minor, subject to any 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | safety and welfare concerns for the minor. The officer shall 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | execute a written report detailing the circumstances under which 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | the person was taken into custody, which must be made a part of 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | the patient's clinical record. The report must include all 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | emergency contact information for the person that is readily 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | accessible to the law enforcement officer, in cluding information 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | available through electronic databases maintained by the 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | Department of Law Enforcement or by the Department of Highway 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | Safety and Motor Vehicles. Such emergency contact information 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | may be used by a receiving facility only for the purpos e of 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | informing listed emergency contacts of a patient's whereabouts 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | pursuant to s. 119.0712(2)(d). Any facility accepting the 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | patient based on this report must send a copy of the report to 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | the department within 5 working days. 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | 3. A physician, a physician assistant, a clinical 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | psychologist, a psychiatric nurse, an advanced practice 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | registered nurse registered under s. 464.0123, a mental health 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | counselor, a marriage and family therapist, or a clinical social 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | worker may execute a certificate stating that he or she has 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | examined a person within the preceding 48 hours and finds that 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | the person appears to meet the criteria for involuntary 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 9 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 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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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | examination and stating the observations upon which that 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | conclusion is based. If other less restrictive means, such as 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | voluntary appearance for outpatient evaluation, are not 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | available, a law enforcement officer must shall take into 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | custody the person named in the certificate and deliver him or 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | her to the appropriate, or nearest, facility within the 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | designated receiving system pu rsuant to s. 394.462 for 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | involuntary examination. The law enforcement officer shall 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | execute a written report detailing the circumstances under which 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | the person was taken into custody and include all emergency 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | contact information required under subparagraph 2. Such 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | emergency contact information may be used by a receiving 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | facility only for the purpose of informing listed emergency 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | contacts of a patient's whereabouts pursuant to s. 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | 119.0712(2)(d). The report and certificate must shall be made a 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | part of the patient's clinical record. Any facility accepting 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | the patient based on this certificate must send a copy of the 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | certificate to the department within 5 working days. The 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | document may be submitted electronically through existing data 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | systems, if applicable. 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | When sending the order, report, or certificate to the 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | department, a facility shall, at a minimum, provide information 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | about which action was taken regarding the patient under 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | paragraph (g), which information must shall also be made a part 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 9 |
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| 195 | 195 | | 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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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | of the patient's clinical record. 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 397.68151, Florida 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | 397.68151 Duties of court upon filing of petition for 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | involuntary services. — 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | (3) A copy of the petition and notice of the hearing must 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | be provided to the respondent; the respondent's parent, 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | guardian, or legal custodian, in the case of a minor; the 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | respondent's attorney, if known; the petitioner; the 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | respondent's spouse or guardian, if applicable; and such other 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | persons as the court may direct. If th e respondent is a minor, a 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | copy of the petition and notice of the hearing must be 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | personally delivered to the respondent. The clerk shall also 138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | issue a summons to the person whose admission is sought, and, 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | unless a circuit court's chief judge authorizes dis interested 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | private process servers to serve parties under this chapter, 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | within 6 hours after the summons being issued, the clerk of the 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | court shall electronically submit the summons and, if 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | applicable, a copy of the petition and notice of hearing to a 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | law enforcement agency to must effect such service on the person 145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | whose admission is sought for the initial treatment hearing. 146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and subsection 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | (5) of section 790.401, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | 790.401 Risk protection orders. — 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | (3) RISK PROTECTION ORDER HEARINGS AND ISSUANCE. — 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 9 |
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| 232 | 232 | | 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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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | (a) Upon receipt of a petition, the court must order a 151 |
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| 237 | 237 | | hearing to be held no later than 14 days after the date of the 152 |
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| 238 | 238 | | order and must issue a notice of hearing to the responden t for 153 |
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| 239 | 239 | | the same. 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | 1. The clerk of the court shall electronically transmit 155 |
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| 241 | 241 | | within 6 hours after the court issues an order and notice of 156 |
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| 242 | 242 | | hearing cause a copy of the order, notice of hearing, and 157 |
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| 243 | 243 | | petition to be forwarded on or before the next business day to 158 |
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| 244 | 244 | | the appropriate law enforcement agency for service upon the 159 |
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| 245 | 245 | | respondent as provided in subsection (5). 160 |
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| 246 | 246 | | 2. The court may, as provided in subsection (4), issue a 161 |
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| 247 | 247 | | temporary ex parte risk protection order pending the hearing 162 |
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| 248 | 248 | | ordered under this subsection. Suc h temporary ex parte order 163 |
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| 249 | 249 | | must be served concurrently with the notice of hearing and 164 |
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| 250 | 250 | | petition as provided in subsection (5). 165 |
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| 251 | 251 | | 3. The court may conduct a hearing by telephone pursuant 166 |
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| 252 | 252 | | to a local court rule to reasonably accommodate a disability or 167 |
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| 253 | 253 | | exceptional circumstances. The court must receive assurances of 168 |
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| 254 | 254 | | the petitioner's identity before conducting a telephonic 169 |
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| 255 | 255 | | hearing. 170 |
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| 256 | 256 | | (5) SERVICE.— 171 |
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| 257 | 257 | | (a) Within 6 hours after the court issues a temporary ex 172 |
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| 258 | 258 | | parte risk protection order or risk protection order, the clerk 173 |
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| 259 | 259 | | of the court shall electronically transmit furnish a copy of the 174 |
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| 260 | 260 | | notice of hearing, petition, and temporary ex parte risk 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 9 |
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| 269 | 269 | | 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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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | protection order or risk protection order, as applicable, to the 176 |
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| 274 | 274 | | sheriff of the county where the respondent resides or can be 177 |
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| 275 | 275 | | found, who shall serve it upon the respondent as soon thereafter 178 |
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| 276 | 276 | | as possible on any day of the week and at any time of the day or 179 |
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| 277 | 277 | | night. An electronic When requested by the sheriff, the clerk of 180 |
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| 278 | 278 | | the court may transmit a facsimile copy of a temporary ex parte 181 |
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| 279 | 279 | | risk protection order or a risk protection order must be that 182 |
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| 280 | 280 | | has been certified by the clerk of the court, and the electronic 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | this facsimile copy must may be served in the same manner as a 184 |
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| 282 | 282 | | certified copy. Upon receiving an electronic a facsimile copy, 185 |
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| 283 | 283 | | the sheriff must verify receipt with the sender before 186 |
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| 284 | 284 | | attempting to serve it upon the respondent. The clerk of the 187 |
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| 285 | 285 | | court is shall be responsible for furnishing to the sheriff 188 |
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| 286 | 286 | | information on the respondent's physical description and 189 |
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| 287 | 287 | | location. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 190 |
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| 288 | 288 | | contrary, the chief judge of each circuit, in consultation with 191 |
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| 289 | 289 | | the appropriate sheriff, may authorize a law enforcement agency 192 |
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| 290 | 290 | | within the jurisdiction to effect service. A law enforcement 193 |
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| 291 | 291 | | agency effecting servic e pursuant to this section shall use 194 |
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| 292 | 292 | | service and verification procedures consistent with those of the 195 |
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| 293 | 293 | | sheriff. Service under this section takes precedence over the 196 |
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| 294 | 294 | | service of other documents, unless the other documents are of a 197 |
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| 295 | 295 | | similar emergency nature. 198 |
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| 296 | 296 | | (b) All orders issued, changed, continued, extended, or 199 |
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| 297 | 297 | | vacated after the original service of documents specified in 200 |
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| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 9 |
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| 306 | 306 | | 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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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | paragraph (a) must be certified by the clerk of the court and 201 |
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| 311 | 311 | | delivered to the parties at the time of the entry of the order. 202 |
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| 312 | 312 | | The parties may acknowledge receipt of such order in writing on 203 |
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| 313 | 313 | | the face of the original order. If a party fails or refuses to 204 |
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| 314 | 314 | | acknowledge the receipt of a certified copy of an order, the 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | clerk must shall note on the original order that service was 206 |
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| 316 | 316 | | effected. If deliver y at the hearing is not possible, the clerk 207 |
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| 317 | 317 | | must shall mail certified copies of the order to the parties at 208 |
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| 318 | 318 | | the last known address of each party. Service by mail is 209 |
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| 319 | 319 | | complete upon mailing. When an order is served pursuant to this 210 |
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| 320 | 320 | | subsection, the clerk shall prepare a written certification to 211 |
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| 321 | 321 | | be placed in the court file specifying the time, date, and 212 |
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| 322 | 322 | | method of service and shall notify the sheriff. 213 |
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| 323 | 323 | | Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 214 |
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