87R5980 EAS-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2070
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duties of the statewide behavioral health
coordinating council regarding suicide prevention, intervention,
and postvention policies and procedures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.471, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 531.471. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this
subchapter:
(1) "Council [, "council]" means the statewide
behavioral health coordinating council.
(2) "Postvention" includes activities that promote
healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by a person affected
by the suicide of another.
SECTION 2. Section 531.476, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 531.476. POWERS AND DUTIES. The council:
(1) shall develop and monitor the implementation of a
five-year statewide behavioral health strategic plan;
(2) shall develop a biennial coordinated statewide
behavioral health expenditure proposal;
(3) shall annually publish an updated inventory of
behavioral health programs and services that are funded by the
state that includes a description of how those programs and
services further the purpose of the statewide behavioral health
strategic plan;
(4) shall examine the policies and procedures
regarding suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention of
each entity represented on the council to determine whether the
policies and procedures are:
(A) in accordance with best practices for suicide
prevention, intervention, and postvention; and
(B) in alignment with the policies and procedures
of the other entities on the council;
(5) shall establish model policies and procedures
regarding suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention,
ensuring that those policies and procedures:
(A) include information about identifying
persons at high risk for suicide;
(B) support best practices for suicide
prevention, intervention, and postvention;
(C) align with the policies and procedures of
entities represented on the council; and
(D) are research-based;
(6) shall require each entity represented on the
council that provides suicide prevention, intervention, and
postvention services to adopt the model policies and procedures
established under Subdivision (5);
(7) shall provide the model policies and procedures
established under Subdivision (5) to each state agency that
provides suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
services;
(8) may create subcommittees to carry out the
council's duties under this subchapter; and
(9) [(5)] may facilitate opportunities to increase
collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal
and state funds for behavioral and mental health services in this
state.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.