Amend CSSB 703 (senate committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 12.051 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.051. FARMER MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish a farmer mental health and suicide prevention program to raise awareness among farmers of issues relating to mental health and suicide prevention.
(b) As part of the program, the department shall:
(1) promote suicide prevention among farmers through a public awareness campaign;
(2) provide a toll-free telephone hotline for farmer mental health assistance;
(3) develop a mental wellness plan for farmers affected by a disaster; and
(4) coordinate suicide prevention activities with other state agencies, including the Department of State Health Services.