Definitions; legislative findings and intent.

(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this part, the term:

(a) “Agency” means the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(b) “Behavioral health” means the prevention and treatment of, and recovery from, any substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or co-occurring disorder.

(c) “Behavioral health professions” means licensed or certified professionals serving the needs of patients with behavioral health disorders, including, but not limited to, psychiatrists licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459; psychologists licensed under chapter 490; psychiatric nurses licensed under chapter 464; and social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors licensed under chapter 491.

(d) “Behavioral health teaching hospital” means a hospital licensed under this chapter and designated as a behavioral health teaching hospital by the agency under s. 395.902.

(e) “Department” means the Department of Children and Families.

(2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—

(a) The Legislature finds that there is a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals and recognizes the urgent need to expand the existing behavioral health workforce, prepare for an aging workforce, incentivize entry into behavioral health professions, and train a modernized workforce in innovative and integrated care.

(b) The Legislature finds that there is a specific need to support a behavioral health education system that not only trains the next generation of professionals in innovative and integrated care for those with behavioral health needs, but also works to modernize the state’s overall behavioral health system of care.

(c) The Legislature intends to identify and designate multiple behavioral health teaching hospitals that work to provide the necessary research, education, and services to enhance the state’s behavioral health workforce and make that workforce and system of care the national standard.

(d) The Legislature intends to create the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce within the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida to address issues of workforce supply and demand in behavioral health professions, including issues of recruitment, retention, and workforce resources.

(e) The Legislature intends for designated behavioral health teaching hospitals to:

1. Conduct state-of-the-art behavioral health research.

2. Provide leading-edge education and training in innovative and integrated care for the state’s behavioral health workforce.

3. Collaborate with other university colleges and schools of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, public health, and other relevant disciplines to promote and enhance a modernized behavioral health system of care.

4. Develop, implement, and promote public-private partnerships throughout this state to support and enhance the intent of this part.

5. Partner with the state to provide behavioral health care, address regional and systemwide behavioral health needs, and support the state in providing treatment and care for those whose need and acuity has resulted in the need for long-term voluntary services or involuntary civil commitment.