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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force on intentional violent |
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deaths. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Task force" means the task force on intentional |
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violent deaths. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The department shall establish a task force |
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on intentional violent deaths. The task force shall develop a |
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written plan establishing measures and a timeline to reduce |
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intentional violent deaths in this state, including suicides and |
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homicides. The department shall: |
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(1) analyze current available local and state data |
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relating to intentional violent deaths and: |
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(A) identify gaps in the data; and |
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(B) recommend measures to improve data |
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collection; |
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(2) analyze, to the extent feasible, the impact mental |
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illness has on intentional violent deaths; |
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(3) review current laws in this state and other states |
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pertaining to addressing and preventing intentional violent |
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deaths; and |
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(4) review national best practices relating to |
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policies on reducing intentional violent deaths. |
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(b) The task force is composed of 11 members as follows: |
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(1) two members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives; |
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(4) one representative of each of the following |
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agencies appointed by the executive head of the agency: |
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(A) the department; |
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(B) the Department of Public Safety of the State |
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of Texas; |
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(C) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and |
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(D) the Texas Suicide Prevention Council; |
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(5) one representative from a law enforcement |
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organization, appointed by the commissioner of state health |
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services; and |
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(6) two representatives from public health advocacy |
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organizations, appointed by the department. |
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(c) A task force member is not entitled to compensation or |
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reimbursement for expenses incurred in performing the member's |
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duties. |
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(d) Not later than October 1, 2017, each person responsible |
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for appointing members to the task force shall appoint the members |
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as required by Subsection (b) of this section. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall |
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submit its written plan to the governor and members of the |
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legislature. |
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SECTION 3. The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
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September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |