Florida SB 94: Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee

Bill Text

94 
Suicide Prevention for Active and Former Members of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, and their Reserve Components 
2025-10-02T04:45:21Z 
Requiring a facility conducting an involuntary examination to include in its report to the Baker Act Reporting Center whether the individual examined is an active or former member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or their reserve components, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 94 

 By Senator Sharief 

 35-00392-26 202694__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to suicide prevention for active and 
 3 former members of the United States Armed Forces, the 
 4 National Guard, and their reserve components; 
 5 providing legislative findings and intent; amending s. 
 6 394.463, F.S.; requiring a facility conducting an 
 7 involuntary examination to include in its report to 
 8 the Baker Act Reporting Center whether the individual 
 9 examined is an active or former member of the United 
 10 States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or their 
 11 reserve components; providing an effective date. 
 12 
 13 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds the rate of suicide among 
 14 Florida active duty members and veterans of the United States 
 15 Armed Forces, the National Guard, and their reserve components 
 16 remains alarmingly high when compared to that of civilians, and 
 17 WHEREAS, according to the Office of Suicide Prevention, 
 18 there were 34.7 suicides per 100,000 veterans compared to 17.1 
 19 per 100,000 nonveterans reported in 2022, and 
 20 WHEREAS, current reporting requirements under the Baker Act 
 21 do not mandate the collection of data on whether individuals 
 22 subject to involuntary examinations are active duty members or 
 23 veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, 
 24 or their reserve components, and 
 25 WHEREAS, without accurate reporting, the state lacks 
 26 critical information needed to determine whether the Baker Act 
 27 is being applied appropriately to active duty members and 
 28 veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, 
 29 or their reserve components, and 
 30 WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to strengthen oversight 
 31 and accountability in the application of the Baker Act by 
 32 requiring mandatory reporting to include identification of a 
 33 patient’s military status to support improved policymaking, 
 34 prevention strategies, and positive mental health outcomes, NOW, 
 35 THEREFORE, 
 36 
 37 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 38 
 39 Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 394.463, 
 40 Florida Statutes, to read: 
 41 394.463 Involuntary examination.— 
 42 (6) VETERAN AND MILITARY STATUS REPORTING.—Any facility 
 43 conducting an involuntary examination pursuant to this section 
 44 must include in its report to the Baker Act Reporting Center at 
 45 the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute whether 
 46 the individual examined is an active or former member of the 
 47 United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, or their reserve 
 48 components. 
 49 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.