Fla. Stat. § 397.697 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 397 / Part V / Section 397.697
397.697 Court determination; effect of court order for involuntary services.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) When the court finds that the conditions for involuntary treatment services have been proved by clear and convincing evidence, it may order the respondent to receive involuntary treatment services from a publicly funded licensed service provider for a period not to exceed 90 days. The court may also order a respondent to undergo treatment through a privately funded licensed service provider if the respondent has the ability to pay for the treatment, or if any person on the respondent’s behalf voluntarily demonstrates a willingness and an ability to pay for the treatment. If the court finds it necessary, it may direct the sheriff to take the respondent into custody and deliver him or her to the licensed service provider specified in the court order, or to the nearest appropriate licensed service provider, for involuntary treatment services. When the conditions justifying involuntary treatment services no longer exist, the individual must be released as provided in s. 397.6971. When the conditions justifying involuntary treatment services are expected to exist after 90 days of treatment services, a renewal of the involuntary services order may be requested pursuant to s. 397.6975 before the end of the 90-day period. (b) To qualify for involuntary outpatient treatment, an individual must be supported by a social worker or case manager of a licensed service provider, or a willing, able, and responsible individual appointed by the court who shall inform the court and parties if the respondent fails to comply with his or her outpatient program. In addition, unless the respondent has been involuntarily ordered into inpatient treatment under this chapter at least twice during the last 36 months, or demonstrates the ability to substantially comply with the outpatient treatment while waiting for residential placement to become available, he or she must receive an assessment from a qualified professional or licensed physician expressly recommending outpatient services, such services must be available in the county in which the respondent is located, and it must appear likely that the respondent will follow a prescribed outpatient care plan.

(2) In all cases resulting in an order for involuntary treatment services, the court shall retain jurisdiction over the case and the parties for the entry of such further orders as the circumstances may require, including, but not limited to, monitoring compliance with treatment, changing the treatment modality, or initiating contempt of court proceedings for violating any valid order issued pursuant to this chapter. Hearings under this section may be set by motion of the parties or under the court’s own authority, and the motion and notice of hearing for these ancillary proceedings, which include, but are not limited to, civil contempt, must be served in accordance with relevant court procedural rules. The court’s requirements for notification of proposed release must be included in the original order.

(3) An involuntary treatment services order also authorizes the licensed service provider to require the individual to receive treatment services that will benefit him or her, including treatment services at any licensable service component of a licensed service provider.

(4) If the court orders involuntary treatment services, a copy of the order must be sent to the managing entity, the department, and the Louis de la Parte Florida Institute established under s. 1004.44, within 1 working day after it is received from the court. Documents may be submitted electronically through existing data systems, if applicable.

(5) The department and the institute established under s. 1004.44, shall also receive and maintain copies of the involuntary assessment and treatment orders issued pursuant to ss. 397.68151, 397.6818, and 397.6957; the qualified professional assessments; the professional certificates; and the law enforcement officers’ protective custody reports. The institute established under s. 1004.44 shall use such documents to prepare annual reports analyzing the data the documents contain, without including patients’ personal identifying information, and the institute shall post such reports on its website and provide copies of the reports to the department, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31 of each year.

History: s. 6, ch. 93-39; s. 754, ch. 95-148; s. 37, ch. 2009-132; s. 39, ch. 2016-241; s. 35, ch. 2024-245.