Substance Abuse and Mental Health Care

Added a formal definition for '988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center' and expanded the definition of 'crisis services' to include this new resource.

Created new section 394.9088 requiring the Department of Children and Families to authorize and oversee 988 call centers, including adopting rules for minimum standards and quality assurance.

Modified guardian advocate discharge rules to include additional triggers related to patient competence restoration and added procedures for restoring patient competence.

Added requirements for clinical psychologists to have at least 3 years of clinical postdoctoral experience when making involuntary placement determinations.

Modified medication-assisted treatment requirements for opiate addiction, removing certain provider requirements and changing how needs assessments are conducted.

Added mandatory training requirements for court-appointed mental health experts, including initial and ongoing forensic evaluator training.

Changed involuntary placement petition filing timelines from 24 hours to 12 hours for certain situations, and clarified that hearings must be scheduled immediately.

Added authority for the department to take corrective actions, including suspension or revocation of authorization, for 988 call centers that fail to comply with requirements.

Requires the Department of Children and Families to authorize and provide oversight of 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call centers, including adopting rules for authorization, minimum standards, personnel certifications, and statewide interoperability with 911 systems.

Requires clinical psychologists making involuntary placement determinations at certain mental health facilities to have at least 3 years of clinical postdoctoral experience in the practice of clinical psychology.

Revises training requirements for court-appointed experts to include forensic evaluator training approved by the department, and requires existing evaluators to complete continuing education by July 1, 2026.

Removes requirements relating to providers of medication-assisted treatment services for opiate addiction, allowing the department to determine need rather than mandating establishment of such providers.

Adds a new definition for '988 suicide and crisis lifeline call center' and revises the definition of 'crisis services' to explicitly include telephonic services provided by 988 call centers.

Clarifies that orders entered by administrative law judges for continued involuntary placement at certain mental health facilities are final and subject to judicial review, with hearings to be scheduled immediately.

Revises eligibility criteria for publicly funded mental health services to include persons experiencing acute mental or emotional crisis as defined in the statute.

Sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2025.