THE BILL ITSELF

SB 94

Suicide Prevention for Active and Former Members of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, and their Reserve Components

VERSION S 94 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

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.

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,

37 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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.