bill for a model suicide prevention policy

The text as introduced · 752 words

89R3313 EAS-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 193

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a model suicide prevention policy, suicide prevention

and intervention strategies incorporated into a state agency crisis

or disaster plan, suicide death information maintained by the

Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Violent Death

Reporting System.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 547, Government Code, as effective April

1, 2025, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. SUICIDE PREVENTION

Sec. 547.0451. MODEL SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY. (a) In

this section, "postvention" includes activities that promote

healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by an individual

affected by the suicide of another individual.

(b) The commission shall develop and publish on the

commission's Internet website a model suicide prevention policy to

be implemented at state agencies, community coalitions, and other

public or private institutions or facilities that serve populations

at higher risk for suicide, including veterans, individuals with

disabilities, and individuals who live in rural areas of this

state. The policy must be designed for implementation by

individuals who may not be mental health professionals.

(c) The policy must include:

(1) information on suicide prevention, intervention,

and postvention;

(2) information on recognizing warning signs of

suicide; and

(3) resources, including local mental health

authorities, for individuals 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 of this

state.

(e) In developing the policy under this section, the

commission:

(1) shall collaborate with the statewide behavioral

health coordinating council established under Subchapter D and the

Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative; and

(2) may receive information or assistance from any

other interested statewide or local entities engaged in suicide

prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Sec. 547.0452. CRISIS AND DISASTER PLANS. (a) Not later

than August 31, 2026, 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 consortium members; and

(B) identify lessons learned from responses by

state agency consortium members during prior crises or disasters;

and

(2) based on the information obtained under

Subdivision (1), recommend to each state agency consortium member

incorporating suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention

strategies into a crisis plan or disaster plan.

(b) Not later than August 1, 2027, each state agency member

of the Disaster Behavioral Health Consortium shall incorporate

recommendations the commission made under Subsection (a) into the

agency's crisis plan or disaster plan.

(c) This section expires September 1, 2027.

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 suicides

in this state to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator of

the Health and Human Services Commission's office of mental health

coordination .

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 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

commission's office of mental health coordination.

(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, 2025.