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Senate advances behavioral-health bill; renames research center for Sen. Roussan
Summary
The Senate passed a package of measures drawn from the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, and a late amendment named a new Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research at USF for Sen. Daryl Roussan.
TALLAHASSEE — The Senate passed a broad behavioral-health package on April 24 that implements recommendations from the state's Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders and includes a floor amendment naming a new research center for Sen. Daryl Roussan.
What the bill covers: The bill (CS for CS for SB 1620) requires greater use of standardized functional assessments (DLA-20) across child and school programs, calls for biennial workforce analyses and recommendations by the Florida Mental Health Institute, updates discharge planning for patients receiving long-acting injectables, and directs a review and potential expansion of short-term residential treatment capacity. It also directs creation of a new Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research to develop evidence-based responses and workforce strategies.
Recognition and amendment on the floor: Senator Hooper offered and the Senate adopted a late-filed amendment renaming the center the "Daryl E. Roussan Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research." Floor speakers paid tribute to Senator Roussan's advocacy and personal history of recovery; senators across the aisle and the chamber lauded his leadership on substance-use issues.
Votes and next steps: The bill passed on a voice and roll-call vote with unanimous support after the naming amendment was adopted; sponsors asked agencies to begin implementation planning and to prepare the statutorily required reports and workforce assessments.
Reporting note: The floor debate mixed policy detail about workforce recruitment and treatment access with ceremonial recognition for the senator whose work on substance use and recovery was repeatedly cited by colleagues.
