85R11987 MM-D
By: Thierry H.B. No. 3407
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force to address suicide
prevention at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter W-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER W-1. TASK FORCE TO PREVENT SUICIDE AT INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Sec. 51.861. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Task force" means the task force established
under this subchapter.
Sec. 51.862. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. A task force is
established under this subchapter to develop a strategy to prevent
suicide at institutions of higher education.
Sec. 51.863. TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The task force
consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
(1) two members appointed by the governor;
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives;
(4) four members appointed by the presiding officer of
the task force;
(5) one representative from The University of Texas'
counseling and mental health center appointed by the chancellor of
The University of Texas System;
(6) one representative from Texas A&M University's
student counseling services appointed by the chancellor of The
Texas A&M University System; and
(7) one representative of the Department of State
Health Services appointed by the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission.
(b) Members of the task force must be individuals who are:
(1) actively involved in the prevention of suicide and
the improvement of student welfare; or
(2) employed by an institution of higher education.
(c) Appointments to the task force shall be made without
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
national origin of the appointee.
(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
service on the task force.
(e) The presiding officer of the task force is the member
who represents The University of Texas' counseling and mental
health center.
(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding
officer. The task force may meet by teleconference.
(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
task force.
Sec. 51.864. TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall
identify:
(1) all existing programs in the state relating to
preventing suicide at institutions of higher education; and
(2) the programs described by Subdivision (1) that
receive state money.
(b) The task force shall develop recommendations for
reducing suicide and for improving student welfare at institutions
of higher education. In developing recommendations, the task force
shall:
(1) gather information concerning suicide and student
welfare at institutions of higher education, including information
regarding:
(A) the race, gender, area of study, and year of
study for students who have committed suicide, attempted to commit
suicide, or sought services related to suicide from a counseling
center;
(B) protocols on each campus for responding to
students in distress, intervention, treatment, re-entry, and
post-crisis intervention;
(C) the availability of online resources and
hotlines;
(D) efforts to screen students for behavioral
health disorders and suicidal ideation;
(E) efforts to enforce suicide means restriction
and reduce access to lethal means;
(F) counselor-to-student ratios;
(G) student groups raising awareness about
suicide prevention and behavioral health problems; and
(H) social media coping resources, including
online resources;
(2) receive reports and testimony from individuals,
state and local governmental agencies, community-based
organizations, and other public and private organizations; and
(3) create goals for state policy that would prevent
suicide and improve student welfare at institutions of higher
education.
Sec. 51.865. SUPPORT AGENCY DUTIES. The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, the Department of State Health
Services, The University of Texas System, and The Texas A&M
University System shall:
(1) provide administrative support services to the
task force;
(2) coordinate administrative responsibilities with
the task force to avoid unnecessary duplication of duties;
(3) share the costs of the task force, including
administrative expenses; and
(4) each designate a person to serve as a liaison with
the task force.
Sec. 51.866. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES; PRIVATE
FOUNDATIONS. (a) The task force shall consult with employees of
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Department of
State Health Services, The University of Texas System, and The
Texas A&M University System as necessary to accomplish the task
force's responsibilities under this subchapter.
(b) The task force may collaborate as necessary with any
appropriate state agency, including institutions of higher
education.
(c) The task force may consult with private foundations that
have made a substantial commitment to the prevention of suicide to
accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this
subchapter.
Sec. 51.867. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2018, the
task force shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report
that includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings of the task force on the current state
of suicide at institutions of higher education;
(3) recommendations on best practices for higher
education policies and protocols for preventing suicide; and
(4) any other matter the task force considers
appropriate.
Sec. 51.868. FUNDING; ACCOUNT. (a) The task force shall
review the funding strategies for the task force and develop
proposals for expanding the sources of funds available to finance
the activities of the task force.
(b) The task force may accept gifts and grants from
individuals or private or public organizations and accept federal
and local funds to support the task force.
(c) The suicide prevention task force account is an account
in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be
appropriated only to the task force for the purposes of this
subchapter. The suicide prevention task force account is exempt
from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code. The
account consists of:
(1) gifts and grants to the task force;
(2) money received by the task force from federal,
state, or local government; and
(3) notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government Code,
all interest attributable to money held in the account.
Sec. 51.869. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
this subchapter expires September 1, 2019.
SECTION 2. The members of the task force shall be appointed
as required by Section 51.863, Education Code, as added by this Act,
not later than October 1, 2017.
SECTION 3. 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, 2017.