Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: October 29, 2024
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: Venerria L. Thomas, Director
FROM: Lisa Klier-Graham, Manager
CONTACT: Lisa Klier-Graham
PHONE: 407-836-3187
DIVISION: Mental Health and Homelessness Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approval of Orange County Transportation Plan in accordance with Florida Statute 394, Florida Mental Health Act Florida Statute 397, Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act Three-Year 2024-2027 to allow the City of Orlando to contract with and utilize a third-party secure transportation company in lieu of law enforcement to take individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders to the Central Receiving Center at 1800 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida with reevaluations of the plan as needed per Florida Statute. (Mental Health and Homelessness Division)
body
PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE: Approval of an amendment to the agreement for a transportation exception plan with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) was first initiated in January 2003 and renewed in 2008, 2013, 2020, and 2023. The primary goal of the plan is to allow law enforcement officers in Orange County to bypass the “nearest Baker Act Receiving Facility” to take individuals to the Belvin Perry Jr., Central Receiving Center (CRC) in Orange County. The CRC is located at 1800 Mercy Drive in Orlando, Florida. The term of this plan is 3 years covering the years 2024 to 2027.
The Transportation Exception Plan, approved previously by the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, allows officers to transport people needing mental health and/or substance abuse evaluations to the Central Receiving Center, bypassing the other designated receiving centers. It is being requested that the Board approve an amendment of the Transportation Exception Plan as allowed in F.S. 394 to allow a jurisdiction designated by the county to contract on an annual basis with an emergency medical transport service or private transport company as follows:
Allow the City of Orlando to contract with a third-party secure transportation company for transporting individuals under a Marchman Act for inpatient substance use treatment or a Baker Act for inpatient mental health treatment to the CRC. This will reduce the amount of time law enforcement officers in the City of Orlando spend on transporting persons to the CRC.
The City of Orlando currently has an agreement with Orange County Office for a Drug Free Community that supports the funding of said third-party secure transportation company. This amendment further includes the following legal language: If a jurisdiction desires to use a secured transport provider for involuntary transports, as opposed to law enforcement, as authorized under section 394.462, Florida Statutes, then said jurisdiction must first enter into an agreement with Orange County. The agreement between the designated jurisdiction and Orange County must, at a minimum, set forth whether the involuntary transport will be at the sole cost of Orange County or whether there is a cost-sharing arrangement between Orange County and the designated jurisdiction.
BUDGET: N/A