85R7085 EES-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 1694
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to suicide prevention training for certain mental health
  professionals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 116 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 116. SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH
  PROFESSIONALS
         Sec. 116.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "mental health
  professional" and "mental health services" have the meanings
  assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 116.002.  SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING. (a) A mental
  health professional must complete four hours of suicide prevention
  training before the mental health professional may provide mental
  health services:
               (1)  in the scope of employment with this state;
               (2)  under a contract with this state;
               (3)  in the scope of employment with an organization
  that receives funding from this state; or
               (4)  under a contract with an organization that
  receives funding from this state.
         (b)  The Department of State Health Services, the Texas
  Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas State Board of
  Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of
  Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners
  of Professional Counselors, and the Texas State Board of Social
  Worker Examiners shall jointly approve suicide prevention training
  courses that may be completed by mental health professionals to
  satisfy the suicide prevention training requirement of Subsection
  (a).
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall develop a
  process for notifying mental health professionals who are employed
  by or provide mental health services under a contract with this
  state or an organization that receives funding from this state of
  the suicide prevention training requirement of Section 116.002(a),
  Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Section 116.002(a), Occupations Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to mental health services provided as
  described by that section on or after September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.