FL S1280

Revises involuntary admission procedures for individuals with intellectual disability or autism by requiring petitions be executed by a petitioning commission (unless filed under criminal chapter 916) and allowing psychologists in addition to physicians on examining committees.

Requires the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to examine individuals for service eligibility and provide written notice of eligibility determinations, with appeals available through the Medicaid fair hearing process under s. 393.125.

Mandates annual court hearings to review continued need for involuntary residential placement and requires courts to consider least restrictive alternatives, including whether guardians or guardian advocates can make placement decisions.

Modifies criminal competency procedures by directing courts to order the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to select experts for evaluating defendants with suspected intellectual disability or autism, sets a 30-day timeframe for competency hearings after notification of competence restoration, and limits conditional release for community-based competency training to 2 years.

Changes court payment structure for examining committee fees from county general revenue funds to direct court determination and payment, and allows contemporaneous video communication technology for defendant presence at proceedings.