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Florida Statute 394.455 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIX
PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 394
MENTAL HEALTH
View Entire Chapter
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  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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In Re Beverly, 342 So. 2d 481 (Fla. 1977).

Cited 67 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 97 A.L.R. 3d 767

...Specifically, appellant says that under the statute a person who is "mentally ill" may be involuntarily hospitalized, and that this term is unconstitutionally vague. Appellant argues that the vagueness impediment is not overcome by the definition in Section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1973), which reads: "`Mentally ill" means having a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder which substantially impairs the person's mental health." Appellant also contends that the statute is overbroad in that...
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Amends. to Fl. Rules of Crim. Proc., 685 So. 2d 1253 (Fla. 1996).

Cited 22 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...The criteria for involuntary hospitalization are set forth in section 394.467(1), Florida Statutes (1979). As to involuntary hospitalization for mental retardation, see section 393.11, Florida Statutes (1979); definition of treatment facility, see section 394.455, Florida Statutes (1979); involuntary admission to residential services, see section 393.11, Florida Statutes (1979)....
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Dept. of Hlt. & Rehabilitative Serv. v. Fla Psychiatric Soc'y, Inc., 382 So. 2d 1280 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980).

Cited 14 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...Crisis stabilization and intensive residential treatment facilities are classified under the Baker Act as receiving facilities, meaning facilities designated by the Department to receive patients under emergency conditions and to provide short-term treatment. Section 394.455(10), Florida Statutes (1977)....
...osed by Rule 10D-73. [4] Rule 10D-73 refers to rule-making authority of the Department under Sections 381.031(1)(g)11, 394.457(5), 394.78(1), (2)(b), 400.23(2), and 893.01, Florida Statutes (1977); and as the laws being implemented Sections 394.453, 394.455(8), (10), 394.457(2), 394.66(1), (2), (3), (4), 394.78(2)(a), 400.011, 400.041(3), 400.062(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), 400.141, 400.141(2), 400.23(1), (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d), Florida Statutes (1977)....
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Provenzano v. State, 750 So. 2d 597 (Fla. 1999).

Cited 10 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1999 WL 742293

...agency recognized and approved by the United States Department of Education or was comparable to such programs. (Emphasis added.) [3] Thus, according to section 490.003, a "doctoral degree in psychology" includes an Ed.D. as well as a Ph.D. Further, section 394.455(2), Florida Statutes (1997), defines "clinical psychologist" as "a psychologist as defined in s....
...Ehrhardt, Florida Evidence § 702.1, at 555 (1999 ed.). However, the circuit court's conclusion that Dr. Fleming was not an expert in clinical psychology goes to her qualifications. It appears that the circuit court either was not aware of or did not consider section 490.003 and section 394.455 when it concluded that Dr....
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Miami Herald Publ'g Co. v. Chappell, 403 So. 2d 1342 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).

Cited 7 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 7 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1956

...ion. The cited statute affords involuntarily hospitalized patients the protection of confidentiality. "Patient" is defined as "any mentally ill person who seeks hospitalization under this part, or any person for whom such hospitalization is sought." § 394.455(13), Fla....
...Clinical records include "all parts of the record required to be maintained and includes all medical records, progress notes, charts, admission and discharge data, and all other information recorded by a facility which pertains to the patient's hospitalization and treatment." § 394.455(21), Fla....
...including any occasion when the patient is taken into custody, detained, or transported... .", it too contains no provision for courtroom closure in criminal proceedings. In our opinion, a defendant in a criminal competency proceeding is not a "patient" as defined in section 394.455 and is therefore not entitled to confidentiality during that proceeding....
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State v. Shaw, 929 So. 2d 1145 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006).

Cited 7 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2006 WL 1501088

...that "an individual cannot be considered to meet the criteria for involuntary civil commitment as a sexually violent predator if the individual's propensity to commit sexually violent offenses is wholly attributable to a mental illness as defined in Section 394.455, Florida Statutes (200[1])." Section 394.455, Florida Statutes (2001), defines "mental illness" as "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 substanti...
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Welk v. State, 542 So. 2d 1343 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1989 WL 38533

...Welk, in the Northeast Florida State Hospital for a period not to exceed six months. Appellant raises two points on appeal. The first point contends that the record does not contain clear and convincing evidence that appellant suffers from a mental illness as defined in section 394.455(3)....
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Miller v. Carson, 524 F. Supp. 1174 (M.D. Fla. 1981).

Cited 4 times | Published | District Court, M.D. Florida

...Statutes, or residential services as set forth in Florida Statutes, or may order that he receive out patient treatment at any other appropriate facility or service on an involuntary basis. Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.212(b)(1) (Emphasis added). Florida Statutes § 394.455(11) (1979) defines "treatment facility" as any "state-owned, state-operated, or state-supported hospital, center, or clinic designated by the [D]epartment [of Health and Rehabilitative Services] for the treatment and hospitalization of per...
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Jaggers v. State, 509 So. 2d 1165 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 12 Fla. L. Weekly 1528

...This does not mean that we are comfortable with appellant being out in public where he will be exposed to female children. The legislature has defined "mentally ill" as an impairment ... of the ability to exercise conscious control of one's actions ... See section 394.455(3) Florida Statutes (1985)....
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Tribune Co. v. DML, 566 So. 2d 1333 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1990 WL 126201

...reasons set forth in section 394.467. In *1335 order to make this determination, it is necessary to consider all available information concerning the patient. All such information is required to be placed in the patient's clinical record pursuant to section 394.455(18) which provides: "Clinical record" means all parts of the record required to be maintained and includes all medical records, progress notes, charts, admission and discharge data, and all other information recorded by a facility which pertains to the patient's hospitalization and treatment....
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Ward v. State, 965 So. 2d 308 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2007 WL 2710748

...(2002) (defining "law enforcement officer"); § 250.535(1)(e), Fla. Stat. (2002) (defining "law enforcement agency"); § 397.311(17), Fla. Stat. (2002) (defining "law enforcement officer" as "a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1)"); § 394.455(16), Fla....
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Poole v. South Dade Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., 139 So. 3d 436 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2014 WL 2199813, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 8128

...Definitions of “patient” generally involve the act of submitting to care and treatment rather than simply evaluation. See generally Art. 10, § 25, Fla. Const. (“The term ‘patient’ means an individual who has sought, is seeking, is undergoing, or has undergone care or treatment ... by a health care provider.”); § 394.455(20), Fla....
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MW v. Davis, 722 So. 2d 966 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 2801

...a hearing, for "any person age seventeen or under for whom such application is made by his or her guardian." § 394.4625(1)(a). The term "guardian" includes "a person appointed by a court to act on behalf of a ward's person if the ward is a minor." § 394.455(11)....
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STATE, DHRS v. Bentley, 617 So. 2d 368 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1993 WL 114774

...meaning of this chapter if he does not have sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or if he has no rational, as well as factual, understanding of the proceedings against him. Contrast section 394.455(3) which provides: (3) "Mentally ill" means an impairment of the emotional processes, of the ability to exercise conscious control of one's actions, or of the ability to perceive reality or to understand, which impairment substantiall...
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State, Dep't of Child. & Families v. Reyes, 829 So. 2d 252 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002).

Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 12775, 2002 WL 2009793

...petent to proceed 5 years after such determination, unless the court in its order specifies its reasons for believing that the defendant will become competent to proceed within the foreseeable future. ...” . A "transfer evaluation” as defined by section 394.455(29), Florida Statutes (2001), is: [T]he process, as approved by the appropriate district office of the department,' whereby a person who is being considered for placement in a state treatment facility is first evaluated for appropriat...
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Doe v. State, 210 So. 3d 154 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

the petition. Once patients, as defined by section 394.455(31), Florida Statutes (2015), had involuntary
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1985).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

the transportation of patients. QUESTION ONE Section 394.455(8), F.S. (1984 Supp.), provides that a "receiving
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W. Frank Wells Nursing Home v. State, Agency for Health Care Admin., 75 So. 3d 328 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011).

Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 16838, 2011 WL 5041903

...oved from resident status at this point. Furthermore, the hospital emergency room was not a Baker Act "receiving facility" designated by AHCA, and the physician's order was for a general "mental evaluation," not an involuntary examination defined by section 394.455(34) as one "to determine if an individual qualifies for involuntary inpatient treatment under s. 394.467(1)." The "mental evaluation" first ordered by the attending physician was not equivalent to the "involuntary examination" described in section 394.455(34) and governed by section 394.463....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2001).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...Thus, to the extent of any inconsistency, the discussion and conclusion contained in this opinion should prevail over those of earlier opinions. Sincerely, Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General RAB/tgh 1 Section 394.451 , Fla. Stat., provides the title for the act. 2 See , s. 394.453 , Fla. Stat. 3 Section 394.455 (26), Fla....
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WM v. State, 992 So. 2d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008).

Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2008 WL 4525772

...dministrative hearing requirement to apply until a person has been committed to long-term involuntary treatment. Under this statutory scheme, there is a distinction between a "receiving facility" such as Florida Hospital, and a "treatment facility." Section 394.455(26), Florida Statutes (2007), defines a "receiving facility" as "any public or private facility designated by the department to receive and hold involuntary patients under emergency conditions or for psychiatric evaluation and to provide short term treatment. " (Emphasis added). Section 394.455(32) defines a "treatment facility" as: [A]ny 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...
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W.M. v. State, 992 So. 2d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008).

Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2008 Fla. App. LEXIS 15416

...ative hearing requirement to apply until a person has been committed to long-term involuntary treatment. Under this statutory scheme, there is a distinction between a “receiving facility” such as Florida Hospital, and a “treatment facility.” Section 394.455(26), Florida Statutes (2007), defines a “receiving facility” as “any public or private facility designated by the department to receive and hold involuntary patients under emergency conditions or for 'psychiatric evaluation and to provide short term treatment.” (Emphasis added). Section 394.455(32) defines a “treatment facility” as: [A]ny 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 receiv...
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1999).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

Inc. 10 Section 394.455(26), Fla. Stat. 11 Section 394.455(30), Fla. Stat. 12 Section 394.455(3), Fla
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1999).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...Act, and thus possess no authority under the act to initiate the involuntary examination of a person or to transport such person as law enforcement officers. Sincerely, Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General RAB/tjw 1 Section 394.451 , Fla. Stat. 2 Section 394.455 (26), Fla....
...4 The statutes define "[c]linical record" to mean "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 a facility which pertains to the patient's hospitalization and treatment." See , s. 394.455 (3), Fla....
...le for the safe and dignified transportation of the patient. 8 Section 394.462 (2)(d), Fla. Stat. But see , s. 394.462 (3), Fla. Stat., authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services to grant exceptions to the statute. 9 Section 394.455 (16), Fla....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 2008).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

specific definitions for terms used in the act. Section 394.455(21), Florida Statutes, defines "physician"
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James Deloatch v. State of Florida (Fla. 4th DCA 2023).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal

...4.4593(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2018). 2 The parties agree the victim was not in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”). (b) Resides in a receiving facility or a treatment facility, as those terms are defined in s. 394.455, commits a felony of the second degree ....
...For the purposes of Chapter 394, the Florida Legislature, at the time of this alleged crime, had defined “patient” to mean “any person, with or without a co- occurring substance abuse disorder, who is held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(31), Fla....
...denied the defendant’s JOA motion. Our supreme court has not issued standard jury instructions for the charged crime. Thus, both parties submitted proposed special jury instructions. The defendant requested Chapter 394’s definitions of 3 Section 394.455(31), defining “patient,” changed to 394.455(32) in 2020. 3 “mental illness,” “patient,” “receiving facility,” and “treatment facility” be provided to the jury. § 394.455, Fla....
...), which states: An employee who engages in sexual misconduct with a patient who: (a) Is in the custody of the department; or (b) Resides in a receiving facility or a treatment facility, as those terms are defined in s. 394.455 commits a felony of the second degree ....
...Thus, the trial court was required to use the defined term. The State argues contrary intent appears on the face of section 394.4593, Florida Statutes (2018). The State suggests if the legislature had intended for the definition of “patient” in section 394.455 to be the 5 definition for “patient” in section 394.4593, the legislature would have referred to section 394.455 like it did with the terms “treatment facility” and “receiving facility.” But “‘[o]nly the most extraordinary showing of contrary intentions’ in the legislative history will justify a departure from that language.” Salinas v. United States, 522 U.S. 52, 58 (1997) (citations omitted). To fit within the statutory definition of “patient,” the victim would have had to be “held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(31), Fla....
...The legislature’s definition of “patient” has been in existence for decades and was most recently revised in 2016. See Ch. 2016–241, § 87, at 83, Laws of Fla. In 2015, “patient” was defined as “any person who is held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(20), Fla. Stat. (2015). In 2016, that definition was changed to “any person, with or without a co-occurring substance abuse disorder, who is held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(31), Fla....
...certain forensic clients . . . provided exceptions.” See id. • Our Conclusion This leads us to but one conclusion: the victim was not a “patient” as defined by the Florida Legislature in Chapter 394, Florida Statutes (2018). See § 394.455(31), Fla....
...Chapter 394 is captioned “Mental Health.” That chapter’s Part I “shall be known as ‘The Florida Mental Health Act’ or ‘The Baker Act.’” § 394.451, Fla. Stat. (2018). Part I includes section 394.4593 (“Sexual misconduct prohibited; reporting required; penalties”) and section 394.455 (“Definitions”)....
...in the same chapter and the same part. As discussed in the majority opinion, the definitions section states that ‘“Patient’ means any person, with or without a co-occurring substance abuse disorder, who is held or accepted for mental health treatment.” § 394.455(31), Fla....
...lawmakers with [implicit] instructions to apply it to the exclusion of all others,” including the common definition of the word “patient.” See Fox, 294 U.S. at 96. Arguably, the purported victim may have been considered a person “accepted for mental health treatment,” as section 394.455 initially defined “patient.” However, as the majority opinion points out, the statute was amended in 2016 to reflect that a person held or accepted for treatment is a “patient” if he or she either is without a substance abuse disorder or if the substance abuse disorder is “co-occurring,” meaning the patient is receiving treatment for another disorder or illness in addition to treatment for a substance abuse disorder. § 394.455(31), Fla....
... should be extended to those impaired by “substance abuse disorder” who do not manifest a co-occurring mental health impairment, the legislature can achieve that goal by either amending the definition of “patient,” as currently contained in section 394.455(32), Florida Statutes (2022), or by adding a provision mirroring section 394.4593 to Chapter 397. In the meantime, prosecutors remain able to proceed against treatment facility employees who are alleged to have engaged in nonconse...
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In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-13., 272 So. 3d 1210 (Fla. 2019).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida

*If necessary, define "psychiatric nurse" from § 394.455, Fla. Stat. This instruction was adopted
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United States v. Sebastian Ahmed (11th Cir. 2023).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Argued: Apr 25, 2023

...who has a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric nursing, holds a national advanced practice certification as a psy- chiatric mental advanced practice nurse, and has 2 years of post- master’s clinical experience under the supervision of a physician.” Id. § 394.455(36). During cross-examination, Stevens testified that she pre- scribed antipsychotics, like Seroquel and Subutex, and benzodiaze- pines to Serenity patients....
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Jones v. State, 482 So. 2d 571 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 11 Fla. L. Weekly 349, 1986 Fla. App. LEXIS 6331

...tment facility pursuant to chapter 394, part 1, Florida Statutes (1983), commonly referred to as the Baker Act. Appellant raises two issues on appeal: (1) Whether appellant’s mental condition is outside the definition of mental illness provided in section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1983), and (2) whether the state proved the necessity for involuntary civil commitment by clear and convincing evidence....
...others.” ■ Final judgment was entered, reciting that the statutory criteria for involuntary civil commitment had been met and that appellant would be placed in a state mental treatment facility where he could receive intensive curative therapy. Section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1983), defines the term “mentally ill,” within the context of the Baker Act, as: [A]n impairment of the emotional processes, of the ability to exercise conscious control of one’s actions, or of the ability...
...3 only by antisocial behavior or drug addiction. Appellant argues that the evidence established that his mental condition was a result of alcohol and drug addiction and therefore was specifically excluded from the definition of “mentally ill” in section 394.455(3)....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1974).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...ge in s. 394.463 (3), F.S. The legislative intent is abundantly clear: The statutory criteria for emergency admission to a receiving facility do not exclude incarcerated federal prisoners. AS TO QUESTION 4: This question is answered in the negative. Section 394.455 (18), F....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1991).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

clerk's office). 7 See, AGO's 89-12 and 85-62. 8 Section 394.455(18), F.S.
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1985).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

Highway Patrol, sheriff, or deputy sheriff." Section 394.455(14), F.S. (1984 Supp.). A statutory definition
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Milner v. State, 50 So. 3d 711 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 19087, 2010 WL 5093166

...This code provision states that "an individual cannot be considered to meet the criteria for involuntary civil commitment as a sexually violent predator if the individual's propensity to commit sexually violent offenses is wholly attributable to a mental illness as defined in § 394.455, Fla....
...In summary, we conclude that the standard jury instruction adequately addressed the particular legal standard applicable to the facts of this case, and that the trial court did not commit error in denying Milner's requested special instruction. Affirmed. WARNER and FARMER, JJ., concur. NOTES [1] Section 394.455, Florida Statutes, defines "mental illness" as "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 a person's ability to meet the ordinary demands of living, regardless of etiology." § 394.455(18).
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1993).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

General RAB/trh 1 Section 394.451, F.S. 2 Section 394.455(8), F.S. (1992 Supp.), defines a "[r]eceiving
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1993).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

...sources for reimbursement are not available. Sincerely, Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General RAB/tls 1 Section 394.453 (1)(a), F.S. 2 Id. 3 Section 394.457 (2), F.S. 4 See, s. 394.457 (3), F.S. 5 See, ss. 394.463 (1) and (2), F.S. (1992 Supp.). 6 Section 394.455 (8), F.S....
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Onwu v. State, 692 So. 2d 881 (Fla. 1997).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1997 WL 196673

...NOTES [1] The Florida Department of Children and Family Services is the successor in this responsibility to the now defunct Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. [2] We note, however, that an involuntary commitment under the Baker Act may only be entered by the circuit court. § 394.455(7), Fla.Stat....

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