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Florida Statute 394.455 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
F.S. 394.455 Case Law from Google Scholar
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The 2023 Florida Statutes (including 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 psychologist as defined in s. 490.003(7) with 3 years of postdoctoral experience in the practice of clinical psychology, inclusive of the experience required for licensure, 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. 397.6811 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” means a nonresidential 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, holds a national advanced practice certification as a psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse, and has 2 years 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.

F.S. 394.455 on Google Scholar

F.S. 394.455 on Casetext

Amendments to 394.455


Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 394.455
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 394.455.



Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

IN RE STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES- REPORT, 272 So. 3d 1210 (Fla. 2019)

. . . *If necessary, define "psychiatric nurse" from § 394.455, Fla. Stat. . . . *If necessary, define "psychiatric nurse" from § 394.455, Fla. Stat. . . .

DOE, v. STATE C. Y. v. H. H. v. E. P. v. R. C. v. J. G. v. R. D. v. M. R. v. M. R. v. K. M. v. J. M. v. C. W. v. G. P. v. A. P. v. A. B. v., 210 So. 3d 154 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2016)

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

POOLE, v. SOUTH DADE NURSING REHABILITATION CENTER, 139 So. 3d 436 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014)

. . . .”); § 394.455(20), Fla. . . .

W. FRANK WELLS NURSING HOME, v. STATE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION,, 75 So. 3d 328 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2011)

. . . physician’s order was for a general “mental evaluation,” not an involuntary examination defined by section 394.455 . . . by the attending physician was not equivalent to the “involuntary examination” described in section 394.455 . . .

MILNER, v. STATE, 50 So. 3d 711 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2010)

. . . propensity to commit sexually violent offenses is wholly attributable to a mental illness as defined in § 394.455 . . . Section 394.455, Florida Statutes, defines "mental illness” as "an impairment of the mental or emotional . . . interferes with a person’s ability to meet the ordinary demands of living, regardless of etiology.” § 394.455 . . .

W. M. v. STATE, 992 So. 2d 383 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2008)

. . . Section 394.455(26), Florida Statutes (2007), defines a “receiving facility” as “any public or private . . . Section 394.455(32) defines a “treatment facility” as: [A]ny state-owned, state-operated, or state-supported . . .

WARD, v. STATE, 965 So. 2d 308 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2007)

. . . ) (defining “law enforcement officer” as “a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1)”); § 394.455 . . .

STATE v. SHAW,, 929 So. 2d 1145 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2006)

. . . to commit sexually violent offenses is wholly attributable to a mental illness as defined in Section 394.455 . . . Section 394.455, Florida Statutes (2001), defines “mental illness” as “an impairment of the mental or . . .

STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, v. REYES,, 829 So. 2d 252 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2002)

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

H. PROVENZANO, v. STATE, 750 So. 2d 597 (Fla. 1999)

. . . Further, section 394.455(2), Florida Statutes (1997), defines “clinical psychologist” as “a psychologist . . . appears that the circuit court either was not aware of or did not consider section 490.003 and section 394.455 . . .

M. W. a v. DAVIS,, 722 So. 2d 966 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

. . . .” § 394.455(11). . . .

ONWU, v. STATE, 692 So. 2d 881 (Fla. 1997)

. . . . § 394.455(7), Fla.Stat. (Supp.1996). . . . .

GREEN, v. ROSS,, 691 So. 2d 542 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1997)

. . . . — Communications between a patient and a psychiatrist, as defined in s. 394.455(2)(e), shall be held . . .

AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 685 So. 2d 1253 (Fla. 1996)

. . . retardation, see section 393.11, Florida Statutes (1979); definition of treatment facility, see section 394.455 . . .

STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, v. E. BENTLEY,, 617 So. 2d 368 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1993)

. . . Contrast section 394.455(3) which provides: (3) "Mentally ill” means an impairment of the emotional processes . . .

In AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 606 So. 2d 227 (Fla. 1992)

. . . , see section 393.11, Florida Statutes (1979); definition of treatment facility, see chaptersection 394.455 . . .

EASTER HOUSE, v. FELDER,, 910 F.2d 1387 (7th Cir. 1990)

. . . .” § 394.455(22). . . . .

ZINERMON v. BURCH, 494 U.S. 113 (U.S. 1990)

. . . .” §394.455(22). A voluntary patient may request discharge at any time. . . . sign, and will be unable “to make a knowing and willful decision” whether to consent to admission. §394.455 . . . See §§394.457(8) and 394.455(8). . . .

AMI ANCLOTE MANOR HOSPITAL, A. Jr. AMI v. STATE WEBER, H., 553 So. 2d 199 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1989)

. . . See §§ 394.455(15) and (16), Fla.Stat. (1987) (defining the terms “guardian” and “representative”). . . .

L. WELK, v. STATE, 542 So. 2d 1343 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1989)

. . . contain clear and convincing evidence that appellant suffers from a mental illness as defined, in section 394.455 . . .

F. JAGGERS, v. STATE, 509 So. 2d 1165 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1987)

. . . See section 394.455(3) Florida Statutes (1985). . . .

JONES, v. STATE, 482 So. 2d 571 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986)

. . . Whether appellant’s mental condition is outside the definition of mental illness provided in section 394.455 . . . Section 394.455(3), Florida Statutes (1983), defines the term “mentally ill,” within the context of the . . . addiction and therefore was specifically excluded from the definition of “mentally ill” in section 394.455 . . .

KIRKLAND, v. STATE, 436 So. 2d 361 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983)

. . . Sec. 394.455(3), Fla. Stat. (Supp.1982). . . .

GULF COAST HOSPITAL, INC. v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES,, 424 So. 2d 86 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1982)

. . . retarded, ambulatory surgical centers, and chronic renal dialysis centers, (emphasis added) Sections 394.455 . . . Further definitions of “hospital” are found in Section 395.-01(1) and 394.455(1). . . . .

MILLER, v. CARSON, T., 524 F. Supp. 1174 (M.D. Fla. 1981)

. . . Florida Statutes § 394.455(11) (1979) defines “treatment facility” as any “state-owned, state-operated . . .

MIAMI HERALD PUBLISHING COMPANY, a v. G. CHAPPELL, 403 So. 2d 1342 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981)

. . . .” § 394.455(13), Fla.Stat. (1979). . . . .” § 394.455(21), Fla.Stat. (1979). . . . our opinion, a defendant in a criminal competency proceeding is not a “patient” as defined in section 394.455 . . .

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, v. FLORIDA PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY, INC. L. M. D., 382 So. 2d 1280 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1980)

. . . Section 394.455(10), Florida Statutes (1977). . . . .-453, 394.455(8), (10), 394.457(2), 394.66(1), (2), (3), (4), 394.78(2)(a), 400.011, 400.041(3), 400 . . .

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

. . . Appellant argues that the vagueness impediment is not overcome by the definition in Section 394.455(3 . . .

TUCKER, v. Dr. DIODATO,, 321 So. 2d 569 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1975)

. . . According to the provisions of sec. 394.455(21) and (22), “court” is defined to mean “the circuit court . . .