Baker Act

English

Etymology

The legislation was nicknamed the “Baker Act” after Florida Democratic state representative from Miami, Maxine Baker, who served from 1963 to 1972. She had a strong interest in mental health issues, served as chair of the House Committee on Mental Health, and was the sponsor of the bill.

Verb

Baker Act (third-person singular simple present Baker Acts, present participle Baker Acting, simple past and past participle Baker Acted)

1. (US, law, transitive, intransitive) To invoke the Baker Act, i.e., the involuntary institutionalization and examination of an individual in the state of Florida, or (by extension) elsewhere in the United States.
   • 2018 February 27, Kent Justice, “Jacksonville man charged with masturbating in front of kids”, in News4Jax‎^[1]:

     Court records show he was previously ruled not competent for prosecution, Baker Acted 33 times and released back onto the street. The Baker Acts include the child molestation and prior indecent exposure arrests.

See also

• Marchman Act