HB 705 - Florida Mental Health Early Intervention Act of 2015

• Authorizes physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to initiate involuntary examinations under the Baker Act for persons believed to have mental illness, joining physicians, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers in this authority.

• Requires basic training programs for emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers to include curriculum on identifying signs of mental illness and providing appropriate responses to individuals experiencing mental health problems.

• Directs the Department of Children and Families to adopt curriculum standards for first responder mental health training in consultation with the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, Firefighters Employment Standards and Training Council, and Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

• Takes effect July 1, 2015.