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HB003010.100 - 449 - XXXX 1/31/2024 2:49 PM GA
AN ACT relating to veteran suicide prevention. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 40 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) The Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide Prevention 5
Program is hereby created within the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs 6
and shall be attached to the office of the commissioner for administrative 7
purposes. 8
(2) The Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide Prevention 9
Program shall operate in collaboration with the Cabinet for Health and Family 10
Services and in conjunction with additional community partnerships, as 11
appropriate. 12
(3) The mission of the program shall be to raise awareness of and reduce death by 13
suicide within the population of service members, veterans, and their families. 14
The program shall work to reduce barriers at the community and individual level 15
that increase the risk of suicide by increasing access to services and collaborating 16
with a statewide network of partners including state government agencies, 17
community partners, nonprofit organizations, federal partners, and individuals 18
directly impacted by risk of or loss from suicide. 19
(4) The program shall connect service members, veterans, and their families, whose 20
need for services is based upon their risk of death by suicide or other 21
circumstances as outlined by the program, with appropriate community and 22
mental health resources. The program shall: 23
(a) 1. Raise awareness of and access to behavioral health services and 24
resources, promote evidence-based best practices and safe messaging 25
to increase awareness of veteran suicide prevention hotlines and other 26
crisis resources, and connect service members, veterans, and their 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 30/GA
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HB003010.100 - 449 - XXXX 1/31/2024 2:49 PM GA
families to trained mental health providers and appropriate 1
community resources; and 2
2. Advocate for service members, veterans, and their families at risk for 3
suicide, and work to increase public awareness about the issue of 4
suicide among veterans and its root causes; 5
(b) Provide support and guidance to communities aiding in the development of 6
strategic planning designed to reduce suicide among service members, 7
veterans, and their families, including the engagement and coordination of 8
local leadership, faith-based entities, schools, chambers of commerce, 9
public and private providers, grassroots coalitions, and additional 10
stakeholders as identified and appropriate. These efforts shall include but 11
not be limited to the promotion of mental health awareness, the 988 Suicide 12
Crisis Lifeline created in accordance with Pub. L. No. 116-172, the Green 13
Alert under KRS 39F.180, and local resources available to assist in crisis 14
intervention and ongoing supports; and 15
(c) Promote training opportunities and provide educational materials to 16
department and partnering agencies to increase the capacity to raise 17
awareness, identify, and engage service members, veterans, and their 18
families at risk of suicide. 19
(5) The department shall submit an annual written report to the Governor and the 20
Legislative Research Commission by October 30 of each year. The report shall 21
include efforts made, data-driven information, and legislative and budgetary 22
barriers. The report shall be available to the public on the department's website. 23
(6) Notwithstanding any other statute to the contrary, nothing in this bill shall permit 24
any state agency to seize or advocate for the seizure of weapons. 25
(7) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with 26
KRS Chapter 13A as necessary to effectuate this section. 27