FloridasBakerAct:2013FactSheet

DepartmentofChildrenandFamilies

WhatistheBakerActandWhatDoesItDo?
TheBakerActisChapter394,PartI,FloridaStatutes,alsoknown
astheFloridaMentalHealthAct.
TheBakerActprovideslegalproceduresformentalhealth
examinationandtreatment,including:
o Voluntaryadmission
o Involuntaryexamination
o Involuntaryinpatientplacement(IIP)
o Involuntaryoutpatientplacement(IOP)
TheBakerActregulates:
o Crisisstabilizationunits(CSUs)
o Shorttermresidentialtreatmentfacilities(SRTs)
TheBakerActprotectstherightsofallindividualsexaminedor
treatedformentalillnessinFlorida.
WhatIsInvoluntaryExaminationandHowIsItConducted?
Aninvoluntaryexamisapsychiatricexamconductedwithouta
personsconsent,oftencalledgettingBakerActed.
Involuntaryexamsareinitiatedby:
o Lawenforcementofficers(49%)
o Mentalhealthprofessionalsandphysicians(49%)
o Circuitcourts(2%)
Criteriaforinvoluntaryexamarethattheindividual:
o Appearstohaveamentalillness;
o Presentsadangertoselforothers;and
o Refusesvoluntaryexamorisunabletounderstandneedfor
exam
InvoluntaryexamsareprovidedonlybyDCFdesignatedBakerAct
receivingfacilities:
o Hospitals
o Crisisstabilizationunits(CSUs)
Servicesfocusonstabilizingtheimmediatecrisis.
Within72hoursofarrival,facilitymustreleasetheindividualor
fileapetitionforinvoluntaryplacement.
Averagelengthofstayis4.5days.
Releasemustbeapprovedbyapsychiatristoraclinical
psychologist.
KeyStatistics:
InvoluntaryExams
In2011,therewere:
150,000involuntaryexams
111,000individualsexamined
93,000adultsexamined
18,000childrenexamined
Overtenyears(200211),therewere
increasesof:
50%ininvoluntaryexams
46%inindividualsexamined
49%inadultsexamined
35%inchildrenexamined

0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
2002 2011
InvoluntaryExams
Exam
w/o
Petition
76%
Petition
w/o
Hearing
13.70%
Hearing
w/o
Admission
toState
Hospital
9.70%
Admission
toState
Hospital
0.70%
OutcomeofInvoluntary
Exams
WhatIsInvoluntaryInpatientPlacement(IIP)?
Involuntaryinpatientplacement(IIP)istheBakerActstermfor
civilcommitment.
IIPallowsanindividualtobeadmittedformentalhealth
treatment(beyondstabilizationoftheimmediatecrisis)without
theirconsent.
IIPrequires:
o Meetingcriteriaverysimilartothoseforinvoluntary
examination.
o Apetitionfiledbythereceivingfacilitywithinthe72hour
involuntaryexamperiod.
o Supportingopinionsofapsychiatristandeitherasecond
psychiatristoraclinicalpsychologist.
o Acourtorderbasedonahearingwhereatleastoneofthe
professionalstestifies.
AnindividualorderedtoIIPmayreceiveservicesin:
o Astatementalhealthtreatmentfacility(SMHTF)(state
hospital)(avg.lengthofstay=1.7years)
o Ashorttermresidentialtreatmentfacility(SRT).
o IIPmaybeorderedforupto6months,andmaybe
extendedwithadditionalhearings.

WhatIsInvoluntaryOutpatientPlacement(IOP)?
Involuntaryoutpatientplacement(IOP)isaformofcommitment
thatallowsindividualstobemandatedbythecourttoreceive
mentalhealthtreatmentonanoutpatientbasis.
CriteriaforIOParemoredifficulttomeetthancriteriafor
involuntaryinpatientplacement.ForIOP,theindividualmust:
o Haveahistoryofnoncompliancewithtreatmentandbe
unlikelytosurvivesafelyinthecommunitywithout
supervision.
o Have,withinthelast36months:
ReceivedatleasttwoBakerActinvoluntaryexams;
OR
Receivedmentalhealthservicesinaforensicor
correctionalfacility;OR
Engagedinseriousviolentbehaviororattemptsat
selfharm
IOPhasbeenusedinfrequentlyandproviderparticipationvaries.
ItiscurrentlyavailableinEscambia,SantaRosa,Leon,Volusia,
Manatee,Sarasota,Seminole,andDeSotoCounties.
KeyStatistics:Funding
&BedCapacity
DepartmentBudgetforBakerActBeds
FY1213:

AdultBeds $63.4million
ChildBeds $14.0million
Total $77.4million

BakerActReceivingFacilities:

CSUs(AllPublic) 54
PublicHospitals 13
PrivateHospitals 59
Total 126

BakerActBedCapacity:
AdultCSU 903
AdultPublicHospital 659
AdultPrivateHospital 2,632*
TotalAdultBeds 4,194

ChildCSU 196
ChildPublicHospital 209
ChildPrivateHospital 329*
TotalChildBeds 734

*Privatehospitalbedsarenotintendedto
serveindigentindividuals,althoughtheyare
sometimesusedforthatpurpose.

DCF
621
13%
Non
DCF
4,307
87%
FundingSourcesFor Baker
ActBeds