FL H7097

Establishes a "no-wrong-door" designated receiving system for behavioral health crisis services, offering three models (central, coordinated, or tiered), with counties required to approve their receiving system and a corresponding transportation plan by October 31, 2017; law enforcement may transport individuals to facilities other than the nearest if authorized by the plan

Renames "involuntary outpatient placement" to "involuntary outpatient services" under the Baker Act, reduces court order duration from 6 months to 90 days, requires recommendations from two qualified professionals, prohibits filing petitions when services are unavailable, and assigns the state attorney as real party in interest in involuntary proceedings

Overhauls the Marchman Act involuntary services process by extending court-ordered treatment from 60 to 90 days, reducing the hearing timeline from 10 to 5 days, simplifying petition requirements to allow one adult (instead of three) with personal knowledge to file, and creating new guardian advocate provisions for individuals incompetent to consent to substance abuse treatment

Creates enhanced protections for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, requiring documentation of the condition in examination orders, collection of medication and care information by law enforcement, and temporary placement in secure private areas at receiving facilities when clinically indicated

Renames and restructures the state's service delivery framework as a "behavioral health system of care" encompassing mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorder services, with mandated components including care coordination, medication-assisted treatment, recovery support, and case manager certification requirements by July 1, 2017

Strengthens the role of managing entities as not-for-profit regional administrators of behavioral health services, requiring community needs assessments every 3 years, network accreditation by June 30, 2019, annual enhancement plans, real-time crisis stabilization utilization data collection, and coordination with criminal justice, child welfare, Medicaid, and homeless service systems

Renames the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Grant Review Committee to the Grant Policy Committee, expands membership by 11 representatives from law enforcement, veterans, provider, and advocacy organizations, and authorizes not-for-profit providers or managing entities to apply directly for grants

Establishes comprehensive rules for patient's representative designation for involuntary patients, prohibiting clinicians, facility employees, creditors, and persons subject to domestic violence or stalking injunctions from serving in that role

Directs the Agency for Health Care Administration and DCF to develop plans by November 1, 2016 for maximizing federal Medicaid funding for behavioral health care and for creating a single consolidated license for providers offering multiple mental health and substance abuse services

Appropriates $400,000 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2016-2017 to modify the crisis stabilization utilization database; adds legislative intent emphasizing data-driven policy, coordination of care, recovery-oriented services, and authorizing professionals to practice to the full extent of their education and training; effective July 1, 2016