87R12229 GCB-D

By: Powell S.B. No. 1849

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a model suicide prevention policy, the incorporation of suicide prevention and intervention strategies in a crisis plan or disaster plan of certain state agencies, access to suicide death information maintained by the Department of State Health Services, and the establishment of the Texas Violent Death Reporting System.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 531.0927 and 531.0928 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.0927. MODEL SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY. (a) In this section, "postvention" includes activities that promote healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by a person affected by the suicide of another.

(b) The commission shall develop and publish on the commission's Internet website a model suicide prevention policy that addresses information about suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, for implementation at state agencies, community coalitions, and other public or private institutions or facilities that serve populations at higher risk for suicide, including veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons who live in rural areas of the state.

(c) The policy must be designed to be implemented by persons who may not be mental health professionals and provide information related to:

(1) recognizing signs of suicidality in another; and

(2) resources, including local mental health authorities, for persons at risk of suicide.

(d) The policy must address the development of community coalitions to engage in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention activities, especially in high risk rural areas.

(e) In developing the policy under this section, the executive commissioner:

(1) shall collaborate with the statewide behavioral health coordinating council and the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative; and

(2) may receive information or assistance from any other interested statewide or local entities that are engaged in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention activities.

Sec. 531.0928. CRISIS AND DISASTER PLANS. (a) Not later than August 31, 2022, the commission, in collaboration with the Disaster Behavioral Health Consortium, shall:

(1) for the purpose of identifying opportunities to incorporate suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies:

(A) conduct a review of crisis plans and disaster plans of state agency members of the consortium; and

(B) identify lessons learned from responses by state agency members of the consortium made during prior crises or disasters; and

(2) make recommendations based on the information obtained under Subdivision (1) to each state agency member of the consortium regarding the incorporation, in a crisis plan or disaster plan, of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies.

(b) Not later than August 1, 2023, each state agency member of the disaster behavioral health consortium shall incorporate recommendations made by the commission under Subsection (a) to the agency's crisis plan or disaster plan.

(c) This section expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. Section 191.002(b), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The department shall:

(1) establish a vital statistics unit in the department with suitable offices that are properly equipped for the preservation of its official records;

(2) establish a statewide system of vital statistics;

(3) provide instructions and prescribe forms for collecting, recording, transcribing, compiling, and preserving vital statistics;

(4) require the enforcement of this title and rules adopted under this title;

(5) prepare, print, and supply to local registrars forms for registering, recording, and preserving returns or otherwise carrying out the purposes of this title; [and]

(6) propose legislation necessary for the purposes of this title; and

(7) provide access to information regarding state suicide deaths to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator of the office of mental health coordination of the Health and Human Services Commission.

SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.090 to read as follows:

Sec. 1001.090. TEXAS VIOLENT DEATH REPORTING SYSTEM. (a) The department shall establish and operate the Texas Violent Death Reporting System for the purpose of participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System operated by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(b) The department shall provide access to suicide data obtained or maintained through the Texas Violent Death Reporting System to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator of the office of mental health coordination of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 4. 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, 2021.