Item M06
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed.. June 15.2005
Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
No..x;x
Department: CQmwissiQPef DJvid Rice. District 4
Staff Contact Person: Tamara Lundstrom
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussioa of progress OD funding for continued Baker Act
services in Monroe County.
ITEM BACKGROUND: DePoo is tbe only Monroe County Baker Ad receiving facility tbat can
also provide medical tnatmeDt. In 2003, DePoo received approL 400 Baker Act patieatl or 57%
of aD sucb Baker Act patients in Monroe County. If the DePoo facility Baker Act services are
lest, many of these Baker Act patients wbo also require medical treatment will have to be
traDsfeJftd to out-of-county fKilities at increased County cost.
PREVIOUS RlLEV ANT BOCC ACfION: At February 16, 2005 BOCC meeting, the Board
approved a Resolution supporting Baker Ad Reform and supporting tbe efforts of the Lower
Keys Mediad Ceater to obtain state fuDdiog for its DePoo facility to continue Baker Act service
for Monroe County.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUN1Y:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTB_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMBlPurchas.ing _ Risk Management _
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
!lJtWid !}. ~ /)YK
(David P. Rice, Commissioner)
DOCUMENTATION:
Included XX
Not Required_
DISPOsmON:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2105
February 200S
Commissioner Riee
RESOLlITlON ## 078-2005
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING BAKER ACT REFORM AND SUPPORTING
EFFORTS BY THE LOWER KEYS MEDICAL CENTER TO
OBTAIN FUNDING FOR ITS DEPOO FACILITY FOR BAKER
ACT SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Baker Act, a Florida Law, allows fOT involuntary examination of persons
thought to be a danger to themselves or others for a period of up to 72 hours and
WHEREAS, mental health and law enforcement professionals have come to understand that
legal limitations inherent in the Baker Act lead to insufficient care of the mentally ill; and
WHEREAS, there is a tension between the right of the mentially ill person to be "'free" and the
right to obtain treatment that the person may be too ill to recognize he or she needs; and
WHEREAS, Baker Act reform would allow, as 41 other states already allow, court-ordered
involuntary commitment and outpatient treatment; and
WHEREAS, in Key West, the DePoo Facility of the Lower Keys Medical Center ("DePoo") is a
Baker Act receiving facility; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, DePoo received approximately 400 Baker Act patients, or 57% of all such
Baker Act patients in Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, DePoo has been unsuccessful in obtaining necessary funding to care for Baker Act
patients in the Lower Keys, thereby jeopardizing its ability to provide this service in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the urgent need to
care for the mentally ill in the community, as well as the connection between mental health and
homelcssness;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: That the Baker Act reform is hereby supported.
~on 2: That funding for the DePoo Facility to provide full services to Baker Act patients is
hereby supported.
Section 3: That the County Clerk is hereby authorized to transmit certified copies of this
Resolution to the Department of Children and Family Services, to the Key West City Council, City of
Key West, and to Senator Larcenia Bullard and State Representative Ken Sorensen.
Section 4: That this Resolution shall go into effect immediately upon its passage and adoption
and authentication by the signature of the presiding officer and the COWlty Clerk.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida at a meeting
UJ:sWu D\Ji:UU in;iu un i.hc iui.h wy ulrcoluwv, A.u., 2vVJ.
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~tteit~ DANNY L.
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Mayor Dixie M. Spehar Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Charles "Sonny" McCoy Yes
Commissioner George Neugent ~
Commissioner David P. Rice ...I.u.
Commissioner Murray E. Nelson ....In.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNlY. FLOI?DA~ .
By ,()~ 7J? ~
Mayor/Chairman
DIXIE M. SPEHAR