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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and |
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peer support programs in fire departments in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee |
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established under this Act. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire |
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Protection. |
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(3) "Fire department" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 419.021, Government Code. |
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(4) "Fire fighter" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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143.003, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The commission shall |
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establish an advisory committee to study the need to implement |
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suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in |
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this state. The committee is composed of the following members: |
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(1) two fire fighters, appointed by the Texas State |
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Association of Fire Fighters; |
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(2) two fire fighters, appointed by the State |
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Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; |
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(3) two fire chiefs, appointed by the Texas Fire |
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Chiefs Association; |
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(4) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
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mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
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Safety Code, appointed by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association; |
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(5) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
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mental health services as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
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Safety Code, appointed by the Texas State Association of Fire |
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Fighters; |
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(6) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
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mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
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Safety Code, appointed by the State Firefighters' and Fire |
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Marshals' Association of Texas; |
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(7) one person, appointed by the executive director of |
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the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; and |
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(8) the executive director of the commission. |
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(b) The advisory committee shall designate a member of the |
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committee as chair of the committee. |
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(c) The commission may adopt rules necessary to carry out |
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the purpose and duties of the advisory committee under this Act. |
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(d) The commission shall provide administrative support and |
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resources necessary for the advisory committee to carry out the |
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purpose and duties of the committee under this Act. |
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(e) The advisory committee may meet in person or by |
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telephone conference, videoconference, or other electronic means. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2026, the |
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advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report to the |
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governor and the legislature. The report must: |
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(1) provide an overview of suicide prevention and peer |
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support groups in fire departments; |
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(2) address possible licensing requirements and any |
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confidentiality concerns; and |
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(3) provide recommendations on: |
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(A) the need for legislation to implement suicide |
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prevention and peer support groups in fire departments; |
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(B) whether to encourage local governments to |
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develop local suicide prevention and peer support groups in fire |
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departments; and |
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(C) specific programs to be implemented in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is |
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abolished and this Act expires January 10, 2027. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |