BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3759

By: Guillen

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The rate of suicide among veterans in Texas is staggering and is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Currently, the pathways to information about suicide prevention assistance for veterans are insufficient and do not allow easy access. H.B. 3759 seeks to address this issue by requiring certain state agencies to post certain information regarding the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line on the agency's website.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3759 amends the Government Code to require each applicable state agency in the executive or judicial branch to prominently post the following information on the agency's website:

·         the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a link to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website or any successor website; and

·         the phone number for the Veterans Crisis Line and a link to the Veterans Crisis Line website or any successor website.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.