FL H0119

Creates the Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Intervention Unit Pilot Program in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties for 3 years, requiring sheriffs' offices to establish units by October 1, 2021, with specially trained deputies to divert individuals with mental health or substance use disorders into community-based treatment instead of the criminal justice system.

Creates the Misdemeanor Mental Health Diversion Pilot Program in the same four counties for 3 years, requiring mental health screening of misdemeanor defendants within 24 hours of booking and placement on a separate mental health court docket if a disorder is indicated.

Requires defendants who screen positive for a mental health disorder to be transported to a crisis stabilization unit (involuntarily within 72 hours if Baker Act criteria are met, or voluntarily), with the speedy trial period tolled during involuntary commitment; defendants released from jail must comply with court-ordered mental health assessment and treatment as a condition of pretrial release.

Requires the state attorney to consider dismissing misdemeanor charges upon a defendant's successful completion of recommended mental health treatment; if a defendant fails to comply with treatment, the court must consider input from mental health providers and intervention unit members before returning the defendant to jail.

Exempts fiscally constrained counties from local matching fund requirements for Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grants used to establish either pilot program, and requires annual reports to the Governor and Legislature by December 30 each year, with both programs expiring December 31, 2024.