Florida HB 155: Mental Health Programs for Gun Violence Prevention

Bill Text

HB 155 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb155-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to mental health programs for gun 2
violence prevention; creating s. 394.4997, F.S.; 3
providing legislative findings and intent; requiring 4
IMPACT GNV of the City of Gainesville, in 5
collaboration with certain entities, to develop and 6
implement the Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program; 7
providing eligibility and program requirements; 8
providing alternatives to incarceration for specified 9
youth; providing for referrals to specified programs; 10
requiring the City of Gainesville, in collaboration 11
with Alachua County, to annually submit a specified 12
report to IMPACT GNV by a specified date; requiring 13
IMPACT GNV to report specified information to the 14
Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 15
providing for future repeal of the pilot program; 16
providing for an appropriation; providing an effective 17
date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Section 394.4997, Florida Statutes, is created 22
to read: 23
394.4997 Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program.— 24
(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds 25

HB 155 2026

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that persons under 21 years of age in this state are 26
disproportionately affected by gun violence, which has 27
significant adverse effects on the health, safety, and well-28
being of persons under 21 years of age. Further, the Legislature 29
finds that mental health challenges and unresolved conflicts are 30
contributing factors to the prevalence of gun violence and that 31
there is a need for targeted mental health and conflict 32
resolution education programs to assist persons under 21 years 33
of age in mitigating these issues. It is the intent of the 34
Legislature to establish programs that provide mental health 35
services tailored to the needs of persons under 21 years of age, 36
implement conflict resolution training in schools and community 37
centers to prevent violence, and fund community-based 38
initiatives that address the root causes of gun violence among 39
persons under 21 years of age. 40
(2) CREATION.— 41
(a) IMPACT GNV of the City of Gainesville shall develop 42
and implement a Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program in the 43
City of Gainesville, in collaboration with the Department of 44
Juvenile Justice, the state attorney, and the public defender of 45
the eighth judicial circuit. 46
(b) The Gun Violence Prevention Pilot Program shall 47
provide mental health services, community-based intervention 48
programs, conflict resolution training, and alternative 49
opportunities. 50

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(c) IMPACT GNV shall design the pilot program to align 51
with and complement existing efforts in the City of Gainesville 52
to address gun violence among youth and young adults. IMPACT GNV 53
shall, at a minimum, consult with stakeholders before and during 54
implementation of the pilot program. 55
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to become an eligible program 56
participant, he or she must be: 57
(a) A person who is at least 10 to 21 years of age, who is 58
at moderate or high risk of being: 59
1. A victim of gun violence; 60
2. An offender who has inflicted bodily harm or death; or 61
3. An individual returning to the community from a 62
delinquency residential program. 63
(b) A family member of a person eligible under paragraph 64
(a). 65
(4) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The program shall: 66
(a) Provide program participants with access to mental 67
health services, including, but not limited to, all of the 68
following: 69
1. Individual therapy sessions with qualified 70
professionals or mental health counselors to address personal 71
mental health issues. 72
2. Facilitated group therapy sessions to provide peer 73
support and shared experiences. 74
3. Family therapy sessions involving family members to 75

HB 155 2026

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address familial issues contributing to mental health problems. 76
4. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for 77
participants who have experienced trauma. 78
5. Art and music therapies to help participants express 79
emotions and cope with stress. 80
6. Substance abuse treatment programs addressing substance 81
abuse issues that may contribute to violent behavior. 82
7. Mediation training. 83
8. Restoration of relationships. 84
9. Resilience and leadership skills. 85
(b) In collaboration with the Department of Juvenile 86
Justice, the state attorn