Mental Health

Added pretrial felony mental health diversion programs to the bill's scope, expanding eligibility beyond misdemeanor and ordinance violations.

Added veterans treatment court programs to the list of initiatives supported by implementation or expansion grants.

Expanded the Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program to include Hillsborough County alongside existing counties.

Changed 'available funds' to 'available resources' to clarify that in-kind contributions from counties count toward matching requirements.

Modified data repository requirements to specify that the Northwest Regional Data Center is responsible for creating, operating, and managing the repository, including research conducted by it.

Added specific reporting deadlines: plan submission by December 1, 2025, and annual reports beginning December 1, 2026.

Clarified that fiscally constrained counties may not be required to provide local matching funds for reinvestment grants.

Added pretrial felony mental health diversion program eligibility for defendants charged with second or third degree felonies who have no more than three prior felony convictions in the past 5 years, are not charged with violent felonies, and do not have a significant history of violence.

Expanded Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program eligibility to include Hillsborough County in addition to existing counties.

Added training for 911 public safety telecommunicators and emergency medical technicians as eligible uses for implementation or expansion grants.

Added veterans treatment court programs as eligible uses for implementation or expansion grants.

Modified grant matching requirements to exempt fiscally constrained counties from local match requirements for reinvestment grants.

Created new statutes requiring standardized mental health screening within 24 hours of booking, consent forms signed by defendants, and outpatient treatment assessments for eligible defendants.

Added requirement that defendants waive their right to a speedy trial to participate in mental health diversion programs.

Added effective date of October 1, 2025, and reporting deadlines for the Florida Behavioral Health Care Data Repository.

Created new definitions for 'qualified mental health professional' and 'receiving facility' in the new diversion program statutes.

Added authority for state attorneys to revoke diversion program participation if defendants fail to comply with treatment plans.