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Florida Statute 394.455 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 394.455 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
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The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C)

Title XXIX
PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 394
MENTAL HEALTH
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 394.455
394.455 Definitions.As used in this part, the term:
(1) “Access center” means a facility that has medical, mental health, and substance abuse professionals to provide emergency screening and evaluation for mental health or substance abuse disorders and may provide transportation to an appropriate facility if an individual is in need of more intensive services.
(2) “Addictions receiving facility” is a secure, acute care facility that, at a minimum, provides emergency screening, evaluation, detoxification, and stabilization services; is operated 24 hours per day, 7 days per week; and is designated by the department to serve individuals found to have substance abuse impairment who qualify for services under this part.
(3) “Administrator” means the chief administrative officer of a receiving or treatment facility or his or her designee.
(4) “Adult” means an individual who is 18 years of age or older or who has had the disability of nonage removed under chapter 743.
(5) “Clinical psychologist” means a person licensed to practice psychology under chapter 490 or a psychologist employed by a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that qualifies as a receiving or treatment facility under this part.
(6) “Clinical record” means all parts of the record required to be maintained and includes all medical records, progress notes, charts, and admission and discharge data, and all other information recorded by facility staff which pertains to the patient’s hospitalization or treatment.
(7) “Clinical social worker” means a person licensed as a clinical social worker under s. 491.005 or s. 491.006.
(8) “Community facility” means a community service provider that contracts with the department to furnish substance abuse or mental health services under part IV of this chapter.
(9) “Community mental health center or clinic” means a publicly funded, not-for-profit center that contracts with the department for the provision of inpatient, outpatient, day treatment, or emergency services.
(10) “Coordinated specialty care program” means an evidence-based program for individuals who are experiencing the early indications of serious mental illness, especially symptoms of a first psychotic episode, and which includes, but is not limited to, intensive case management, individual or group therapy, supported employment, family education and supports, and the provision of appropriate psychotropic medication as needed.
(11) “Court,” unless otherwise specified, means the circuit court.
(12) “Department” means the Department of Children and Families.
(13) “Designated receiving facility” means a facility approved by the department which may be a public or private hospital, crisis stabilization unit, or addictions receiving facility; which provides, at a minimum, emergency screening, evaluation, and short-term stabilization for mental health or substance abuse disorders; and which may have an agreement with a corresponding facility for transportation and services.
(14) “Detoxification facility” means a facility licensed to provide detoxification services under chapter 397.
(15) “Electronic means” means a form of telecommunication which requires all parties to maintain visual as well as audio communication when being used to conduct an examination by a qualified professional.
(16) “Express and informed consent” means consent voluntarily given in writing, by a competent person, after sufficient explanation and disclosure of the subject matter involved to enable the person to make a knowing and willful decision without any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, or other form of constraint or coercion.
(17) “Facility” means any hospital, community facility, public or private facility, or receiving or treatment facility providing for the evaluation, diagnosis, care, treatment, training, or hospitalization of persons who appear to have or who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness or substance abuse impairment. The term does not include a program or an entity licensed under chapter 400 or chapter 429.
(18) “Guardian” means the natural guardian of a minor, or a person appointed by a court to act on behalf of a ward’s person if the ward is a minor or has been adjudicated incapacitated.
(19) “Guardian advocate” means a person appointed by a court to make decisions regarding mental health treatment on behalf of a patient who has been found incompetent to consent to treatment pursuant to this part.
(20) “Hospital” means a hospital licensed under chapter 395 and part II of chapter 408.
(21) “Incapacitated” means that a person has been adjudicated incapacitated pursuant to part V of chapter 744 and a guardian of the person has been appointed.
(22) “Incompetent to consent to treatment” means a state in which a person’s judgment is so affected by a mental illness or a substance abuse impairment that he or she lacks the capacity to make a well-reasoned, willful, and knowing decision concerning his or her medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment.
(23) “Involuntary examination” means an examination performed under s. 394.463, s. 397.6772, s. 397.679, s. 397.6798, or s. 397.6957 to determine whether a person qualifies for involuntary services.
(24) “Involuntary services” means court-ordered outpatient services or inpatient placement for mental health treatment pursuant to s. 394.4655 or s. 394.467.
(25) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as provided in s. 943.10.
(26) “Marriage and family therapist” means a person licensed to practice marriage and family therapy under s. 491.005 or s. 491.006.
(27) “Mental health counselor” means a person licensed to practice mental health counseling under s. 491.005 or s. 491.006.
(28) “Mental health overlay program” means a mobile service that provides an independent examination for voluntary admission and a range of supplemental onsite services to persons with a mental illness in a residential setting such as a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or an adult family-care home or a nonresidential setting such as an adult day care center. Independent examinations provided through a mental health overlay program must only be provided under contract with the department or be attached to a public receiving facility that is also a community mental health center.
(29) “Mental illness” means an impairment of the mental or emotional processes that exercise conscious control of one’s actions or of the ability to perceive or understand reality, which impairment substantially interferes with the person’s ability to meet the ordinary demands of living. For the purposes of this part, the term does not include a developmental disability as defined in chapter 393, intoxication, or conditions manifested only by dementia, traumatic brain injury, antisocial behavior, or substance abuse.
(30) “Minor” means an individual who is 17 years of age or younger and who has not had the disability of nonage removed pursuant to s. 743.01 or s. 743.015.
(31) “Mobile crisis response service” or “mobile response team” means a nonresidential behavioral health crisis service available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week which provides immediate intensive assessments and interventions, including screening for admission into a mental health receiving facility, an addictions receiving facility, or a detoxification facility, for the purpose of identifying appropriate treatment services.
(32) “Patient” means any person, with or without a co-occurring substance abuse disorder, who is held or accepted for mental health treatment.
(33) “Physician” means a medical practitioner licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or a physician employed by a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Defense.
(34) “Physician assistant” means a person licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
(35) “Private facility” means a hospital or facility operated by a for-profit or not-for-profit corporation or association which provides mental health or substance abuse services and is not a public facility.
(36) “Psychiatric nurse” means an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under s. 464.012 who has a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric nursing and holds a national advanced practice certification as a psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse, and has 1 year of post-master’s clinical experience under the supervision of a physician.
(37) “Psychiatrist” means a medical practitioner licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 for at least 3 years, inclusive of psychiatric residency.
(38) “Public facility” means a facility that has contracted with the department to provide mental health services to all persons, regardless of ability to pay, and is receiving state funds for such purpose.
(39) “Qualified professional” means a physician or a physician assistant licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459; a psychiatrist licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459; a psychologist as defined in s. 490.003(7); or a psychiatric nurse as defined in this section.
(40) “Receiving facility” means a public or private facility or hospital designated by the department to receive and hold or refer, as appropriate, involuntary patients under emergency conditions for mental health or substance abuse evaluation and to provide treatment or transportation to the appropriate service provider. The term does not include a county jail.
(41) “Representative” means a person selected to receive notice of proceedings during the time a patient is held in or admitted to a receiving or treatment facility.
(42) “Restraint” means:
(a) A physical restraint, including any manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to an individual’s body so that he or she cannot easily remove the restraint and which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body. “Physical restraint” includes the physical holding of a person during a procedure to forcibly administer psychotropic medication. “Physical restraint” does not include physical devices such as orthopedically prescribed appliances, surgical dressings and bandages, supportive body bands, or other physical holding when necessary for routine physical examinations and tests or for purposes of orthopedic, surgical, or other similar medical treatment when used to provide support for the achievement of functional body position or proper balance or when used to protect a person from falling out of bed.
(b) A drug or medication used to control a person’s behavior or to restrict his or her freedom of movement which is not part of the standard treatment regimen of a person with a diagnosed mental illness.
(43) “Seclusion” means the physical segregation or involuntary isolation of a person in a room or area from which the person is prevented from leaving. The prevention may be by physical barrier or by a staff member who is acting in a manner, or who is physically situated, so as to prevent the person from leaving the room or area. For purposes of this part, the term does not mean isolation due to a person’s medical condition or symptoms.
(44) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Children and Families.
(45) “Service provider” means a receiving facility, a facility licensed under chapter 397, a treatment facility, an entity under contract with the department to provide mental health or substance abuse services, a community mental health center or clinic, a psychologist, a clinical social worker, a marriage and family therapist, a mental health counselor, a physician, a psychiatrist, an advanced practice registered nurse, a psychiatric nurse, or a qualified professional as defined in s. 39.01.
(46) “Substance abuse impairment” means a condition involving the use of alcoholic beverages or any psychoactive or mood-altering substance in such a manner that a person has lost the power of self-control and has inflicted or is likely to inflict physical harm on himself, herself, or another.
(47) “Telehealth” has the same meaning as provided in s. 456.47.
(48) “Transfer evaluation” means the process by which a person who is being considered for placement in a state treatment facility is evaluated for appropriateness of admission to such facility.
(49) “Treatment facility” means a state-owned, state-operated, or state-supported hospital, center, or clinic designated by the department for extended treatment and hospitalization, beyond that provided for by a receiving facility, of persons who have a mental illness, including facilities of the United States Government, and any private facility designated by the department when rendering such services to a person pursuant to the provisions of this part. Patients treated in facilities of the United States Government shall be solely those whose care is the responsibility of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
(50) “Triage center” means a facility that has medical, mental health, and substance abuse professionals present or on call to provide emergency screening and evaluation for mental health or substance abuse disorders for individuals transported to the center by a law enforcement officer.
History.s. 3, ch. 71-131; s. 1, ch. 72-396; s. 1, ch. 73-133; s. 25, ch. 73-334; s. 199, ch. 77-147; s. 2, ch. 79-298; s. 1, ch. 80-398; s. 5, ch. 82-212; s. 46, ch. 83-218; s. 3, ch. 84-285; s. 11, ch. 85-54; s. 11, ch. 86-145; s. 10, ch. 87-238; s. 17, ch. 87-252; s. 41, ch. 89-526; s. 28, ch. 90-306; s. 21, ch. 92-33; s. 65, ch. 93-268; s. 705, ch. 95-148; s. 54, ch. 95-228; s. 2, ch. 96-169; s. 8, ch. 97-82; s. 21, ch. 97-198; s. 213, ch. 97-264; s. 92, ch. 2000-318; s. 1, ch. 2000-349; s. 1, ch. 2004-385; s. 1, ch. 2006-171; s. 17, ch. 2006-197; s. 37, ch. 2006-227; s. 24, ch. 2007-230; s. 2, ch. 2009-38; s. 11, ch. 2013-162; s. 78, ch. 2014-19; s. 1, ch. 2015-111; s. 7, ch. 2016-127; s. 87, ch. 2016-241; s. 22, ch. 2018-106; s. 4, ch. 2020-39; s. 2, ch. 2022-36; s. 14, ch. 2024-15; s. 48, ch. 2024-245.

F.S. 394.455 on Google Scholar

F.S. 394.455 on CourtListener

Amendments to 394.455


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 394.455

Total Results: 35

In Re Beverly

342 So. 2d 481, 97 A.L.R. 3d 767

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 27, 1977 | Docket: 58586

Cited 67 times | Published

impediment is not overcome by the definition in Section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1973), which reads: "`Mentally

Amends. to Fl. Rules of Crim. Proc.

685 So. 2d 1253

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 27, 1996 | Docket: 1735082

Cited 22 times | Published

(1979); definition of treatment facility, see section 394.455, Florida Statutes (1979); involuntary admission

Dept. of Hlt. & Rehabilitative Serv. v. Fla Psychiatric Society, Inc.

382 So. 2d 1280

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 16, 1980 | Docket: 2538809

Cited 14 times | Published

conditions and to provide short-term treatment. Section 394.455(10), Florida Statutes (1977). The Department's

Provenzano v. State

750 So. 2d 597, 1999 WL 742293

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 23, 1999 | Docket: 1736573

Cited 10 times | Published

includes an Ed.D. as well as a Ph.D. Further, section 394.455(2), Florida Statutes (1997), defines "clinical

State v. Shaw

929 So. 2d 1145, 2006 WL 1501088

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 2006 | Docket: 1727009

Cited 7 times | Published

illness as defined in Section 394.455, Florida Statutes (200[1])." Section 394.455, Florida Statutes (2001)

Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Chappell

403 So. 2d 1342, 7 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1956

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 3, 1981 | Docket: 1672634

Cited 7 times | Published

person for whom such hospitalization is sought." § 394.455(13), Fla. Stat. (1979). Clinical records include

Welk v. State

542 So. 2d 1343, 1989 WL 38533

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 21, 1989 | Docket: 1515824

Cited 6 times | Published

suffers from a mental illness as defined in section 394.455(3). The second point contends that the record

Miller v. Carson

524 F. Supp. 1174

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 28, 1981 | Docket: 901897

Cited 4 times | Published

212(b)(1) (Emphasis added). Florida Statutes § 394.455(11) (1979) defines "treatment facility" as any

Tribune Co. v. DML

566 So. 2d 1333, 1990 WL 126201

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 29, 1990 | Docket: 547969

Cited 3 times | Published

the patient's clinical record pursuant to section 394.455(18) which provides: "Clinical record" means

Jaggers v. State

509 So. 2d 1165, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 1528

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 23, 1987 | Docket: 1361807

Cited 3 times | Published

conscious control of one's actions ... See section 394.455(3) Florida Statutes (1985). We suggest that

Ward v. State

965 So. 2d 308, 2007 WL 2710748

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 2007 | Docket: 1508986

Cited 2 times | Published

enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1)"); § 394.455(16), Fla. Stat. (2002) (defining "law enforcement

Poole v. South Dade Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

139 So. 3d 436, 2014 WL 2199813, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 8128

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 28, 2014 | Docket: 60241118

Cited 1 times | Published

or treatment ... by a health care provider.”); § 394.455(20), Fla. Stat. (2013) (“Patient’ means any person

MW v. Davis

722 So. 2d 966, 1999 WL 2801

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 6, 1999 | Docket: 1669250

Cited 1 times | Published

behalf of a ward's person if the ward is a minor." § 394.455(11). When a child has been declared dependent

STATE, DHRS v. Bentley

617 So. 2d 368, 1993 WL 114774

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 14, 1993 | Docket: 1512496

Cited 1 times | Published

understanding of the proceedings against him. Contrast section 394.455(3) which provides: (3) "Mentally ill" means

United States v. Sebastian Ahmed

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jul 13, 2023 | Docket: 67269849

Published

Argued: Apr 25, 2023

the supervision of a physician.” Id. § 394.455(36). During cross-examination,

JAMES DELOATCH v. STATE OF FLORIDA

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 24, 2023 | Docket: 63301672

Published

held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(31), Fla. Stat. (2018) (emphasis added). 3

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-13.

272 So. 3d 1210

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 6, 2019 | Docket: 15737694

Published

*If necessary, define "psychiatric nurse" from § 394.455, Fla. Stat. This instruction was adopted

Doe v. State

210 So. 3d 154

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 28, 2016 | Docket: 4426655

Published

the petition. Once patients, as defined by section 394.455(31), Florida Statutes (2015), had involuntary

W. Frank Wells Nursing Home v. State, Agency for Health Care Administration

75 So. 3d 328, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 16838, 2011 WL 5041903

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 2011 | Docket: 2360588

Published

not an involuntary examination defined by section 394.455(34) as one "to determine if an individual qualifies

Milner v. State

50 So. 3d 711, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 19087, 2010 WL 5093166

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 15, 2010 | Docket: 1928325

Published

attributable to a mental illness as defined in § 394.455, Fla. Stat. (2001)[1]." Milner's proposed special

WM v. State

992 So. 2d 383, 2008 WL 4525772

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 10, 2008 | Docket: 1391387

Published

Florida Hospital, and a "treatment facility." Section 394.455(26), Florida Statutes (2007), defines a "receiving

W.M. v. State

992 So. 2d 383, 2008 Fla. App. LEXIS 15416

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 10, 2008 | Docket: 64855800

Published

Florida Hospital, and a “treatment facility.” Section 394.455(26), Florida Statutes (2007), defines a “receiving

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: May 30, 2008 | Docket: 3258528

Published

specific definitions for terms used in the act. Section 394.455(21), Florida Statutes, defines "physician"

State, Department of Children & Families v. Reyes

829 So. 2d 252, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 12775, 2002 WL 2009793

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 4, 2002 | Docket: 64818564

Published

. A "transfer evaluation” as defined by section 394.455(29), Florida Statutes (2001), is: [T]he process

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Oct 17, 2001 | Docket: 3256793

Published

for the act. 2 See, s. 394.453, Fla. Stat. 3 Section 394.455(26), Fla. Stat. 4 Section 394.462(1)(a), Fla

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Nov 9, 1999 | Docket: 3257188

Published

Inc. 10 Section 394.455(26), Fla. Stat. 11 Section 394.455(30), Fla. Stat. 12 Section 394.455(3), Fla

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Nov 8, 1999 | Docket: 3255497

Published

General RAB/tjw 1 Section 394.451, Fla. Stat. 2 Section 394.455(26), Fla. Stat., defines a "[r]eceiving facility"

Onwu v. State

692 So. 2d 881, 1997 WL 196673

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Apr 24, 1997 | Docket: 1524508

Published

Act may only be entered by the circuit court. § 394.455(7), Fla.Stat. (Supp.1996). [3] Section 916.13(1)

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Aug 2, 1993 | Docket: 3256949

Published

General RAB/trh 1 Section 394.451, F.S. 2 Section 394.455(8), F.S. (1992 Supp.), defines a "[r]eceiving

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Aug 2, 1993 | Docket: 3256179

Published

394.463(1) and (2), F.S. (1992 Supp.). 6 Section 394.455(8), F.S. (1992 Supp.). 7 Section 394.459(2)

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Feb 1, 1991 | Docket: 3259047

Published

clerk's office). 7 See, AGO's 89-12 and 85-62. 8 Section 394.455(18), F.S.

Jones v. State

482 So. 2d 571, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 349, 1986 Fla. App. LEXIS 6331

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 6, 1986 | Docket: 64617154

Published

the definition of mental illness provided in section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1983), and (2) whether

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Dec 9, 1985 | Docket: 3257618

Published

Highway Patrol, sheriff, or deputy sheriff." Section 394.455(14), F.S. (1984 Supp.). A statutory definition

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Oct 9, 1985 | Docket: 3256312

Published

the transportation of patients. QUESTION ONE Section 394.455(8), F.S. (1984 Supp.), provides that a "receiving

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Feb 11, 1974 | Docket: 3255812

Published

This question is answered in the negative. Section 394.455(18), F. S., provides that: "As used in this