Etymology

Baker Act

Today it means: 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. Full definition →

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The story

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.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.