TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed two bills into law strengthening the state’s response to individuals with mental health issues.
DeSantis signed SB-168, the “Tristin Murphy Act,” which creates processes for diverting people with mental health issues who are accused of crimes into treatment programs, rather than prisons. The legislation was named after Tristin Murphy, a Florida man with mental health issues who took his own life while incarcerated.
The governor also signed SB-1620, which updates requirements for mental health assessment and treatment plans, and strengthens crisis response.
DeSantis spoke at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa.
