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FL S1284
Bill
AI Summary
- Overhauls Florida's involuntary mental health examination and treatment procedures for Department of Corrections inmates, requiring psychiatric evaluations within 10 calendar days of arrival at a mental health treatment facility and court hearings within 14 calendar days of petition filing
- Establishes express and informed consent requirements for mental health treatment, mandating that inmates receive plain-language explanations of proposed treatments, risks, alternatives, and their right to revoke consent
- Creates a new framework (s. 945.485) for managing self-injurious inmate behaviors, allowing wardens to petition circuit courts for orders compelling emergency surgical intervention or medical treatment when an inmate's self-harm threatens institutional safety, subject to a clear and convincing evidence standard
- Creates inmate health care advance directive provisions (s. 945.6042), allowing inmates to designate health care surrogates and establishing a proxy system—including department-appointed ombudsmen—to make medical decisions for incapacitated inmates who lack available family or surrogates
- Authorizes emergency psychotropic medication without standard procedures for up to 72 hours when a mentally ill inmate poses an immediate threat of bodily harm or extreme behavioral deterioration, with continued treatment requiring transfer to a mental health treatment facility and court-ordered involuntary treatment proceedings
Legislative Description
Health Care for Inmates
Last Action
Died in Fiscal Policy
3/8/2024
Committee Referrals
Fiscal Policy2/13/2024
Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice1/24/2024
Full Bill Text
No bill text available