Title: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness and Assistance Training Program

Summary: Requiring the Department of Children and Families, by a specified date, to establish the training program for a specified purpose; requiring the department to select a coordinating agency to administer the training program by a specified date; providing that the coordinating agency is responsible for all aspects of administering the training program; requiring the coordinating agency to submit a 5-year statewide, phase-in implementation plan to the department, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness and Assistance Training Program; creating s. 394.9088, F.S.; defining terms; requiring the Department of Children and Families, by a specified date, to establish the training program for a specified purpose; specifying requirements for the training program; requiring the department to select a coordinating agency to administer the training program by a specified date; specifying eligibility requirements for the coordinating agency; providing that the coordinating agency is responsible for all aspects of administering the training program; requiring the coordinating agency to submit a 5-year statewide, phase-in implementation plan to the department; specifying requirements for the plan; requiring the coordinating agency to submit an annual report to the department by a specified date; specifying requirements for the report; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 394.9088, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 394.9088   Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness and Assistance Training Program.  (1)   As used in this section, the term: (a)    Coordinating agency  means a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, governed by a board of directors, and selected by the department to administer the training program. (b)    Mental health  means a state of mental well-being that enables a person to cope with the stresses of life, realize his or her abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to his or her community. (c)    National authority  means a national organization that has developed an evidence-based training program using nationally certified trainers and that promotes a greater understanding of mental well-being as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. (d)    Substance use disorder  means a treatable mental health disorder that affects a person s brain and behavior leading to an inability to control the use of substances, including legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. (e)    Training program  means a department-approved, statewide mental health and substance use disorder training program created by a national authority on mental health that incorporates strategies to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, provides an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders, and provides participants with skills to use when experiencing a crisis. (2)(a)   Beginning July 1, 2024, the department shall establish the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness and Assistance Training Program with the goal of training people whose occupations have a high level of daily interaction with the public, including, but not limited to, first responders, health care professionals, educators, business employees, and clergy, to recognize the signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. (b)   The training program shall provide: 1.   An overview of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, including risk factors and warning signs, strategies for how to help a person who is experiencing a mental health-or substance use-related crisis, and how to seek help. 2.   Practical strategies to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders. (3)(a)   By September 1, 2024, the department shall select a coordinating agency to administer the training program statewide. (b)   The coordinating agency shall meet all of the following criteria: 1.   Have at least years of experience providing mental health and substance use disorder training in the state to at least 10,000 people. 2.   Be accredited by a national accrediting organization. 3.   Provide financial statements audited by a nationally recognized auditing firm. 4.   Submit a 5-year, statewide, phase-in implementation plan for administering the training program. (4)(a)   The coordinating agency shall be responsible for all aspects of administering the training program based on its year, statewide, phase-in implementation plan. The plan must set a goal for the number of people to be trained each year. Targeted populations must include first responders and citizens of high-risk neighborhoods and rural communities. The plan must recommend a detailed budget to accomplish these goals, including metrics and reporting requirements. (b)   By June 30, 2025, and annually thereafter by June 30, the coordinating agency shall provide agreed-upon reporting metrics, including the number of people trained and the results of surveys of the people trained which document their knowledge of mental health first aid taught in the training. The report must also document the number of first responders trained. The coordinating agency shall also provide success stories from trainees who successfully used the training program to help someone with a mental health-or substance use-related crisis. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.