SB193 - 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.

  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.