86R10407 GCB-F
 
  By: Hunter H.B. No. 3980
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a requirement that the Statewide Behavioral Health
  Coordinating Council prepare a report regarding suicide rates in
  this state and state efforts to prevent suicides.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. The
  legislature finds that:
               (1)  suicide is a public health crisis that affects
  residents of all ages in every region of this state; and
               (2)  policymakers need a better understanding of the
  issue to determine the appropriate state and regional efforts
  necessary to decrease suicide rates in this state across different
  ages, places, and groups and to address the patchwork of state laws,
  policies, programs, and efforts that are currently being used to
  address suicide.
         SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "Council" means the Statewide Behavioral Health
  Coordinating Council.
               (2)  "Postvention" includes activities that promote
  healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by a person affected
  by the suicide of another.
         SECTION 3.  SUMMARY REPORT. (a)  The Health and Human
  Services Commission, in conjunction with the Department of State
  Health Services, shall prepare a summary report on the prevalence
  of suicide in this state and state policies and programs adopted
  across state systems and agencies to prevent suicides. The summary
  report must:
               (1)  include available statewide and regional data on
  the prevalence rates of suicide-related events, including suicidal
  thoughts, suicide attempts, and deaths caused by suicide, that to
  the extent practicable, is presented in a form that:
                     (A)  is disaggregated by county and recognized
  categories of risk; and
                     (B)  is longitudinal to identify changes in
  suicide prevalence rates since 2000;
               (2)  identify the highest categories of risk with
  correlational data;
               (3)  list state statutes, agency rules, and policies
  related to suicide and suicide prevention, intervention, and
  postvention; and
               (4)  describe state agency initiatives since 2000 to
  address suicide and include the following information relating to
  each initiative:
                     (A)  the administering state agency;
                     (B)  the funding sources, including whether the
  funding was provided by:
                           (i)  a federal block grant;
                           (ii)  a federal discretionary grant; or
                           (iii)  state appropriations;
                     (C)  the years of operation; and
                     (D)  whether the initiative is an example of a
  community-based effort to address suicide.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2019, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall provide a copy of the summary report to
  the council, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of
  the house of representatives, and each standing legislative
  committee with primary jurisdiction over health and mental health.
         SECTION 4.  LEGISLATIVE REPORT. (a)  Using the summary
  report on suicide prepared under Section 3 of this Act and with
  input from the stakeholder workgroup established under Subsection
  (b) of this section, the council shall prepare a legislative report
  on suicide in this state that identifies opportunities and makes
  recommendations, including those that require legislative action,
  for state agencies to:
               (1)  improve statewide and regional data collection on
  suicide-related events;
               (2)  use data to guide and inform decisions and policy
  development relating to suicide prevention; and
               (3)  decrease suicide in this state while targeting the
  highest categories of risk.
         (b)  The council shall establish a stakeholder workgroup to
  assist member agencies in preparing the report that includes:
               (1)  a representative of a nonprofit group that
  supports community-based suicide prevention activities in this
  state; and
               (2)  representatives of other groups involved in
  suicide prevention activities.
         (c)  The chief administrator of each state agency
  represented on the council is entitled to a copy of the legislative
  report prepared under this section.
         (d)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the council shall
  submit a copy of the legislative report to the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  and each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction
  over health and mental health.
         SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2020.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2019.