SB 1354 - HB 1400
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 20, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Higgins | Email: chris.higgins@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 1354 - HB 1400
SUMMARY OF BILL: Requires the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services (DMHSAS) to develop and implement a suicide prevention program. Encourages the
Department to collaborate with qualified mental health professionals in the development and
implementation of the program.
Requires DMHSAS to submit a report on or before January 1 of each year to certain legislative
committees on the suicide prevention program and any suggestions based upon the research
conducted from the previous calendar year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT
EXPENDITURES General Fund
FY25-26 $125,700
Total Positions Required: 1
Assumptions:
• The Office of Crisis Services and Suicide prevention within DMHSAS currently oversees
contracts with several community agencies in the areas of prevention, intervention and
counseling, including the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network and the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline program.
• It is assumed that DMHSAS can leverage these existing partnerships to implement the
suicide prevention program in communities.
• The Department of Health currently produces an annual report on suicide prevention in
Tennessee utilizing grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program.
• The proposed legislation requires DMHSAS to conduct research on suicide rates among
diverse populations and on how to reduce the access of lethal means among persons at risk
of suicide.
• The DMHSAS cannot accommodate these requirements within existing departmental
personnel and resources.
• In order to perform the require research and compile the annual report, DMHSAS will
require one additional Statistical Research Specialist position, beginning in FY25-26.
SB 1354 - HB 1400 2
Title Salary Benefits
Supplies and
Technology # Positions Total
Statistical Research
Specialist $100,440 $24,691 $600 1 $125,731
• The total recurring increase in state expenditures is estimated to be $125,731 in FY25-26
and subsequent years.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director