Senate Bill 1844 (2021) — Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorder Services Commission
SB 1844
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1844 By Senator Rouson 19-00679A-21 20211844__ Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Mental Health and Substance 2 Abuse Disorder Services Commission; creating s. 3 394.4575, F.S.; creating the Mental Health and 4 Substance Abuse Disorder Services Commission within 5 the Department of Children and Families; providing the 6 purpose of the commission; requiring the commission to 7 convene by a specified date; specifying the 8 composition of the commission; providing the duties 9 and authority of the commission; requiring certain 10 agencies to provide assistance to the commission in a 11 timely manner; requiring the commission to submit an 12 initial report to the Governor and the Legislature by 13 a specified date; providing for the expiration of the 14 commission; providing an effective date. 15 16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17 18
Section
Section 394.4575, Florida Statutes, is created 19 to read: 20 394.4575 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorder 21 Services Commission.— 22
(1) The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorder Services 23 Commission, a commission as defined in s. 20.03(10), is created 24 within the Department of Children and Families for the purpose 25 of examining the provision of mental health and substance abuse 26 disorder services in this state. Except as otherwise provided in 27 this section, the commission shall operate in a manner 28 consistent with s. 20.052. 29 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1844 19-00679A-21 20211844__ Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (2)(
a) The commission shall convene no later than October 30 1, 2021, and shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the 31 Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor shall appoint 32 the chair from among the members of the commission. The 33 Secretary of Children and Families and the Secretary of Health 34 Care Administration shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members 35 of the commission. Appointed members must include: 36 1. A representative of the Florida Association of Managing 37 Entities. 38 2. A representative of the Florida Sheriffs Association. 39 3.
A representative of the Florida Association of Counties. 40 4. A representative of the Florida Hospital Association. 41 5. A representative of the Florida Association of District 42 School Superintendents. 43 6. A representative of the Florida Behavioral Health 44 Association. 45 7. A representative of the Florida Coalition for Children. 46 8. A representative of the Florida Assisted Living 47 Association. 48 9. A representative of the American Civil Liberties Union. 49 10. A representative of the Florida Association of Healthy 50 Start Coalitions. 51 11. A representative of the Florida Housing Coalition. 52 12.
A representative of the JJDP Advisory Group. 53 13. A representative of mental health courts. 54 14. A representative of public defenders. 55 15. A consumer representative. 56 (
b) Each member shall be appointed to a 4-year term. 57 However, for the purpose of achieving staggered terms, of the 58 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1844 19-00679A-21 20211844__ Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. initial appointments, eight members shall be appointed to 2-year 59 terms and seven members shall be appointed to 4-year terms. 60
(3) The commission may meet as often as it deems necessary 61 to fulfill the duties prescribed in this section. 62
(4) The commission shall investigate the current system of 63 care in the provision of mental health and substance abuse 64 disorders in this state and develop recommendations for system 65 enhancements. At a minimum, the commission shall: 66 (
a) Review the status of the provision of mental health and 67 substance abuse disorder services in this state and provide 68 recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature. 69 (
b) Review the status of the provision of services to 70 individuals who have both a mental illness and a substance abuse 71 disorder, and provide recommendations to the Governor and the 72 Legislature. 73 (
c) Review the implementation of
chapter 2020-107, Laws of 74 Florida, and provide recommendations to the Governor and the 75 Legislature. 76 (
d) Identify any gaps in the provision of mental health and 77 substance abuse disorder services. 78 (
e) Provide recommendations on how behavioral health 79 managing entities may fulfill their purpose of promoting service 80 continuity. 81
(5) The commission may call upon appropriate agencies of 82 state government for professional assistance as needed in the 83 discharge of its duties, and such agencies shall provide their 84 assistance in a timely manner. 85
(6) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may 86 request and shall be provided with access to any information or 87 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1844 19-00679A-21 20211844__ Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. records, including exempt or confidential and exempt information 88 or records, which pertain to the provision of mental health or 89 substance abuse disorder services and which are necessary for 90 the commission to carry out its duties.
Information or records 91 obtained by the commission which are otherwise exempt or 92 confidential and exempt retain their exempt or confidential and 93 exempt status, and the commission may not disclose any such 94 information or records. 95
(7) The commission shall submit an initial report on its 96 findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of 97 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by 98 July 1, 2023, and may issue reports annually thereafter. 99
(8) This
section expires October 2, 2026. 100