HB 1277 Summary: Behavioral Health Services

• Establishes the Florida Priority Care Project, a 4-year pilot program in the southeast and northeast regions of Florida targeting adults with serious mental illness who have high probability of posing a threat to public safety, including those involved with the criminal justice system.

• Creates criteria and procedures for involuntary assisted outpatient treatment, requiring court orders based on clear and convincing evidence that individuals meet specific criteria including prior involuntary admissions or violent behavior within 36 months.

• Requires the Department of Children and Families to develop a mental health treatment bed registry website with real-time information on available beds at public and private mental health receiving facilities, accessible to facility administrators, service providers, and county law enforcement.

• Modifies firearm eligibility provisions to include assisted involuntary outpatient treatment placement alongside involuntary inpatient placement as grounds for firearm purchase prohibition, and establishes procedures for individuals to petition for relief from such disabilities.

• Effective date: July 1, 2015.