Summary Analysis of Florida House Bill 1493

The bill establishes priority populations of persons who are eligible for services funded by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) and deletes a provision that authorizes DCF to establish a pilot project to serve certain persons who qualify to receive substance abuse or mental health services in specified districts. It also clarifies licensure issues and specifies that substance abuse treatment programs must be licensed by DCF. In addition, the bill includes a provision that changes how DCF will contract for substance abuse treatment services. The provisions went into effect on July 1, 2009.