85R11987 MM-D
 
  By: Thierry H.B. No. 3407
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a task force to address suicide
  prevention at public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter W-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER W-1.  TASK FORCE TO PREVENT SUICIDE AT INSTITUTIONS OF
  HIGHER EDUCATION
         Sec. 51.861.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
               (2)  "Task force" means the task force established
  under this subchapter.
         Sec. 51.862.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. A task force is
  established under this subchapter to develop a strategy to prevent
  suicide at institutions of higher education.
         Sec. 51.863.  TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The task force
  consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
               (1)  two members appointed by the governor;
               (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house
  of representatives;
               (4)  four members appointed by the presiding officer of
  the task force;
               (5)  one representative from The University of Texas'
  counseling and mental health center appointed by the chancellor of
  The University of Texas System;
               (6)  one representative from Texas A&M University's
  student counseling services appointed by the chancellor of The
  Texas A&M University System; and
               (7)  one representative of the Department of State
  Health Services appointed by the executive commissioner of the
  Health and Human Services Commission.
         (b)  Members of the task force must be individuals who are:
               (1)  actively involved in the prevention of suicide and
  the improvement of student welfare; or
               (2)  employed by an institution of higher education.
         (c)  Appointments to the task force shall be made without
  regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
  national origin of the appointee.
         (d)  A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
  service on the task force.
         (e)  The presiding officer of the task force is the member
  who represents The University of Texas' counseling and mental
  health center.
         (f)  The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding
  officer. The task force may meet by teleconference.
         (g)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  task force.
         Sec. 51.864.  TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall
  identify:
               (1)  all existing programs in the state relating to
  preventing suicide at institutions of higher education; and
               (2)  the programs described by Subdivision (1) that
  receive state money.
         (b)  The task force shall develop recommendations for
  reducing suicide and for improving student welfare at institutions
  of higher education.  In developing recommendations, the task force
  shall:
               (1)  gather information concerning suicide and student
  welfare at institutions of higher education, including information
  regarding:
                     (A)  the race, gender, area of study, and year of
  study for students who have committed suicide, attempted to commit
  suicide, or sought services related to suicide from a counseling
  center;
                     (B)  protocols on each campus for responding to
  students in distress, intervention, treatment, re-entry, and
  post-crisis intervention;
                     (C)  the availability of online resources and
  hotlines;
                     (D)  efforts to screen students for behavioral
  health disorders and suicidal ideation;
                     (E)  efforts to enforce suicide means restriction
  and reduce access to lethal means;
                     (F)  counselor-to-student ratios;
                     (G)  student groups raising awareness about
  suicide prevention and behavioral health problems; and
                     (H)  social media coping resources, including
  online resources;
               (2)  receive reports and testimony from individuals,
  state and local governmental agencies, community-based
  organizations, and other public and private organizations; and
               (3)  create goals for state policy that would prevent
  suicide and improve student welfare at institutions of higher
  education.
         Sec. 51.865.  SUPPORT AGENCY DUTIES. The Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board, the Department of State Health
  Services, The University of Texas System, and The Texas A&M
  University System shall:
               (1)  provide administrative support services to the
  task force;
               (2)  coordinate administrative responsibilities with
  the task force to avoid unnecessary duplication of duties;
               (3)  share the costs of the task force, including
  administrative expenses; and
               (4)  each designate a person to serve as a liaison with
  the task force.
         Sec. 51.866.  CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES; PRIVATE
  FOUNDATIONS. (a) The task force shall consult with employees of
  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Department of
  State Health Services, The University of Texas System, and The
  Texas A&M University System as necessary to accomplish the task
  force's responsibilities under this subchapter.
         (b)  The task force may collaborate as necessary with any
  appropriate state agency, including institutions of higher
  education.
         (c)  The task force may consult with private foundations that
  have made a substantial commitment to the prevention of suicide to
  accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this
  subchapter.
         Sec. 51.867.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2018, the
  task force shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report
  that includes:
               (1)  a description of the activities of the task force;
               (2)  the findings of the task force on the current state
  of suicide at institutions of higher education;
               (3)  recommendations on best practices for higher
  education policies and protocols for preventing suicide; and
               (4)  any other matter the task force considers
  appropriate.
         Sec. 51.868.  FUNDING; ACCOUNT. (a) The task force shall
  review the funding strategies for the task force and develop
  proposals for expanding the sources of funds available to finance
  the activities of the task force.
         (b)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from
  individuals or private or public organizations and accept federal
  and local funds to support the task force.
         (c)  The suicide prevention task force account is an account
  in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be
  appropriated only to the task force for the purposes of this
  subchapter. The suicide prevention task force account is exempt
  from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code. The
  account consists of:
               (1)  gifts and grants to the task force;
               (2)  money received by the task force from federal,
  state, or local government; and
               (3)  notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government Code,
  all interest attributable to money held in the account.
         Sec. 51.869.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
  this subchapter expires September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 2.  The members of the task force shall be appointed
  as required by Section 51.863, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  not later than October 1, 2017.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.