CS for CS for SB 7070 - Mental Health and Substance Abuse

• Expands mental health and substance abuse treatment provisions by creating new facility types (addictions receiving facilities, detoxification facilities) and integrating substance abuse services into existing Baker Act mental health commitment procedures under s. 394.463.

• Establishes treatment-based mental health court programs (s. 394.47892) allowing counties to create specialized courts for individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system, with voluntary pretrial participation and court-ordered postadjudicatory options.

• Creates mental health and substance abuse treatment advance directives (ss. 765.402-765.411, the "Jennifer Act") enabling individuals to document treatment preferences and designate surrogates for mental health decisions before losing capacity.

• Implements a Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program (s. 916.185) in five judicial circuits to provide community-based competency restoration and reintegration services as alternatives to state forensic hospital placement.

• Establishes a nonviolent offender reentry program (s. 944.805) in the Department of Corrections requiring intensive substance abuse treatment, education, and vocational training with potential sentence modification upon successful completion.

• Repeals chapter 397 provisions on substance abuse involuntary admission and consolidates substance abuse and mental health procedures into chapter 394, effective July 1, 2016.