During the 2025 Florida legislative session, 149 bills were filed that contained the keyword “veteran” and some of these bills were intended to help address the fact that in 2023 the suicide rate for Florida veterans was 46.2 per 100,000 veterans.
2025 Annual Report Veteran Suicide in Florida, Published: March 2025
However, no bills passed in 2025 addressed the fact that the number of veterans in Florida who have been Baker Acted is not specifically tracked or reported. Nor did any bill address the fact that Florida VA hospitals don’t have to report use of the Baker Act on patients.
Whether or not it is mandatory to report if a person is a veteran when a Baker Act occurs was verified with Dr. Christy from the Baker Act Reporting Center. It is not mandatory. This means we have no idea how or if the Baker Act is being used correctly or incorrectly with veterans.
In February of 2025, ABC Action News reported on the tragic story of US Marine Jordan Hunkin who died by suicide after being illegally Baker Acted by the VA hospital he went to voluntarily for help.
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This tragedy resulted in the VA’s Office Inspector General (OIG) releasing a scathing report that found Malcolm Randall VA hospital in Gainesville improperly Baker Acted Jordan, violated his rights and possibly the rights of other veterans who were also Baker Acted after voluntarily seeking treatment.
While the hospital has updated its Baker Act policies and protocols since being held accountable by the OIG, the reporting of Baker Acts involving veterans should be mandatory.
A check box already exists on the form, but it is not mandatory to fill it out. I am asking that the law covering the mandatory information that must be reported when a person is Baker Acted include whether or not the person is a veteran. This simple change will help with oversight, accountability and in the prevention of the incorrect use the Baker Act.
Tracking of Baker Acts has been shown to result in better reformation of the mental health law which in turn results in improved statistics. For example, the tracking of Baker Acts involving children has facilitated the filing and passing of legislation that has reduced the rate of Baker Acts involving children. Interestingly enough, Florida has also seen a simultaneous reduction in the youth suicide rate.
We are asking for legislation to be filed and passed that makes the tracking of whether or not a person being Baker Acted is a veteran or active military mandatory.
For more information please contact Diane Stein at diane@cchrflorida.org.
