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 1 en 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 en by extension elsewhere in the United States. en February 27, 2018 Kent Justice Jacksonville man charged with masturbating in front of kids w:News4Jax https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/02/28/jacksonville-man-charged-with-masturbating-in-front-of-kids/?outputType=amp 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20251018190314/https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/02/28/jacksonville-man-charged-with-masturbating-in-front-of-kids/?outputType=amp 18 October 2025 See also en Marchman Act en eponyms