Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of bills investing in mental health access in the state June 25.
Here are five things to know:
- The first bill, SB 1620, implements recommendations made by the state’s Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, including new training programs, training stipends and workforce development programs.
- The legislation also includes recommendations to standardize clinical mental health assessments used by providers and school mental health programs. It requires the state to review access to school-based telehealth mental health care biennially, with a focus on rural and underserved areas.
- The Florida Department of Children and Families will build out specialized mobile crisis response services for older adults.
- The second bill, SB 168, creates new diversion pathways for people with mental illness. The legislation creates a clear process for sheriffs, courts and treatment providers to route people with serious mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental healthcare.
- The state is also partnering with the University of South Florida in Tampa to fund a behavioral health research center.
