Legislative Update

April 4, 2019:
Housing task force would focus on options for peers
The 2019 session of the Florida Legislature is halfway over and a bill that would address housing options for individuals with mental illness is working its way through committees. HB 253 by Rep. Michael Gottlieb (D-Plantation) would create an “Independent Living Task Force” that would develop and evaluate policy proposals that provide building contractors and developers incentives to create housing options for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Finding safe, affordable housing is perhaps the biggest barrier for people on the road to recovery from mental illness. Most of these individuals in Tallahassee and across the nation live at home with family caregivers. The task force would focus on providing incentives for real estate developers to create housing units within mixed-used developments that combine residences, retail space and recreational functions. This “work, live, play” model combined with low-cost, supportive, and affordable housing options can result in a greater degree of independence for people with disabilities and provide respite for their caregivers. HB 253 passed its first of three committees March 20. A companion bill, SB 670 by Sen. Mike Rader (D-Boca Raton) has one more committee stop before going to the Senate for a floor vote. The task force would include a member of NAMI Florida.

Early psychosis intervention gets attention
Treatment and early intervention for young adults who experience a psychotic break is starting to get some attention at the state Capitol.
Rep. Cyndi Stevenson is sponsoring a bill (HB 1187) that would include the state’s seven pilot First Episode Psychosis programs to the state’s coordinated system of care. The bill would define a First Episode Psychosis program as evidence-based programs that use intensive case management, individual or group therapy, supported employment, family education and supports, and appropriate psychotropic medication to treat individuals 15 to 30 years of age who are experiencing early indications of serious mental illness, especially first-episode psychosis.
HB 1187 would require regional systems of care such as Big Bend Community Based Care to report how they’re using First Episode Psychosis Programs for individuals in recovery. However, no such program exists yet in Leon County; the closest one is in Panama City. Rep. Stevenson said she was inspired to pursue the First Episode Psychosis language after learning about the programs during last year’s NAMI Florida state conference.

March 15, 2019:
The 2019 session of the Florida Legislature got underway on Tuesday, March 5, with several mental health bills moving through the process.

One bill of special interest to NAMI Tallahassee involves certified peer specialists. Proposed legislation would make it easier for peers to become a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS).

Peers play a special role at NAMI Tallahassee, for example, as leaders in our popular Connection support group for individuals with mental illness. Our Connection program leaders often pursue certification as peer specialists, and NAMI Tallahassee has a grant from the Apalachee Center to assist them in that effort.

But some are disqualified if they have committed lower level crimes such as theft. This legislation would eliminate the disqualifying offenses and enable them to pursue certification and ultimately employment at treatment centers.

The bills to watch are SB 900 by Sen. Gayle Harrell and HB 369 by Rep. Mike Caruso. Sen. Harrell’s bill passed unanimously on Monday in the Senate Children, Family, and Elder Affairs Committee. Rep. Caruso’s bill was unanimously approved last week by the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee. We thank committee member Rep. Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee for her favorable vote on the bill.

Alisa LaPolt is a mental health policy consultant and advocate. She can be reached at alisa@alisalapolt.com