THE BILL ITSELF
SB 778
Forensic Services for Certain Defendants
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 778 By Senator Simon 3-00840-26 2026778__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to forensic services for certain
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defendants; amending s. 916.106, F.S.; revising the
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definition of the term “forensic client” or “client”;
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reenacting s. 402.164(2)(b), F.S., relating to the
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definition of the term “client,” to incorporate the
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amendment made to s. 916.106, F.S., in a reference
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thereto; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 916.106, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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916.106 Definitions.—For the purposes of this chapter, the
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term:
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(9) “Forensic client” or “client” means any defendant who
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has been committed to the department or agency pursuant to s.
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916.13, s. 916.15, or s. 916.302 , or s. 916.303(3) .
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Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
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made by this act to section 916.106, Florida Statutes, in a
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reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
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402.164, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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402.164 Legislative intent; definitions.—
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(2) As used in this section through s. 402.167, the term:
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(b) “Client” means a client of the Agency for Persons with
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Disabilities, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the
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Department of Children and Families, or the Department of
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Elderly Affairs, as defined in s. 393.063, s. 394.67, s.
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397.311, or s. 400.960, a forensic client or client as defined
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in s. 916.106, a child or youth as defined in s. 39.01, a child
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as defined in s. 827.01, a family as defined in s. 414.0252, a
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participant as defined in s. 429.901, a resident as defined in
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s. 429.02, a Medicaid recipient or recipient as defined in s.
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409.901, a child receiving child care as defined in s. 402.302,
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a disabled adult as defined in s. 410.032 or s. 410.603, or a
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victim as defined in s. 39.01 or s. 415.102 as each definition
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applies within its respective chapter.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.