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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to suicide prevention training for certain mental health |
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professionals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 116 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 116. SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH |
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PROFESSIONALS |
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Sec. 116.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "mental health |
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professional" and "mental health services" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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Sec. 116.002. SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING. (a) A mental |
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health professional must complete four hours of suicide prevention |
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training before the mental health professional may provide mental |
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health services: |
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(1) in the scope of employment with this state; |
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(2) under a contract with this state; |
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(3) in the scope of employment with an organization |
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that receives funding from this state; or |
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(4) under a contract with an organization that |
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receives funding from this state. |
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(b) The Department of State Health Services, the Texas |
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Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas State Board of |
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Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of |
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Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners |
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of Professional Counselors, and the Texas State Board of Social |
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Worker Examiners shall jointly approve suicide prevention training |
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courses that may be completed by mental health professionals to |
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satisfy the suicide prevention training requirement of Subsection |
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(a). |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall develop a |
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process for notifying mental health professionals who are employed |
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by or provide mental health services under a contract with this |
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state or an organization that receives funding from this state of |
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the suicide prevention training requirement of Section 116.002(a), |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 116.002(a), Occupations Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to mental health services provided as |
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described by that section on or after September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |