HB 9 Summary

• Amends Florida Statutes section 394.463 to authorize physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to initiate involuntary examinations under the Baker Act for persons believed to have mental illness.

• Adds physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to the list of professionals authorized to execute certificates for involuntary examination after examining a person within the preceding 48 hours.

• Maintains existing procedures requiring law enforcement officers to take persons into custody and deliver them to receiving facilities when voluntary appearance is not available.

• Requires receiving facilities to send copies of examination orders or certificates to the Agency for Health Care Administration on the next working day.

• Effective date is July 1, 2013.