CS/HB 1315 2022
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to veteran suicide prevention 2
training; creating s. 292.115, F.S.; requiring the 3
Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish the 4
Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program; 5
providing the purpose of the pilot program; requiring 6
pilot program participants to receive certain 7
training; requiring the department to contract with a 8
certain organization to develop the curriculum for 9
such training; requiring the department to oversee the 10
process for administering training and certifying 11
participants; authorizing the department to adopt 12
rules; requiring an annual report to the Legislature; 13
providing an appropriation; providing an effect ive 14
date. 15
16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
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Section 1. Section 292.115, Florida Statutes, is created 19
to read: 20
292.115 Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot 21
Program.— 22
(1) The department shall establish the Veteran S uicide 23
Prevention Training Pilot Program. The purpose of the pilot 24
program is to offer to each department claims examiner and to 25
CS/HB 1315 2022
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
each county and city veteran service officer specialized 26
training and certification in the prevention of veteran suicide. 27
(2) Persons who choose to participate in the pilot program 28
must be trained to identify indicators of elevated suicide risk 29
and provide emergency crisis referral for veterans who are 30
expressing or exhibiting symptoms of emotional or psychological 31
distress. The department shall contract with an organization 32
with proven experience in developing and implementing veteran -33
relevant, evidence-based suicide prevention training to develop 34
the curriculum for training under the pilot program. The 35
department shall establi sh and oversee the process for 36
administering such training and certifying those participants 37
who successfully complete such training. 38
(3) Pursuant to its rulemaking authority under s. 39
292.05(3), the department may adopt rules necessary to implement 40
the pilot program. 41
(4) The department shall submit a report to the President 42
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by 43
June 30 of each year which includes information concerning the 44
pilot program and whether any changes should be made t o the 45
pilot program which would increase its effectiveness. In its 46
report submitted by June 30, 2026, the department shall include 47
a recommendation of whether the pilot program should be 48
continued. 49
Section 2. The sum of $500,000 in nonrecurring funds i s 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of 51
Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of implementing this act. 52
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 53