| 1 | 1 | | 89R6425 SCF-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Middleton S.B. No. 1131 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | peer support programs in fire departments in this state. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | established under this Act. |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Protection. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (3) "Fire department" has the meaning assigned by |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | Section 419.021, Government Code. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (4) "Fire fighter" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | 143.003, Local Government Code. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The commission shall |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | establish an advisory committee to study the need to implement |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | this state. The committee is composed of the following members: |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (1) two fire fighters, appointed by the Texas State |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Association of Fire Fighters; |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (2) two fire fighters, appointed by the State |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (3) two fire chiefs, appointed by the Texas Fire |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | Chiefs Association; |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (4) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Safety Code, appointed by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association; |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (5) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | mental health services as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Safety Code, appointed by the Texas State Association of Fire |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Fighters; |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (6) one person who is licensed to provide professional |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | Safety Code, appointed by the State Firefighters' and Fire |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | Marshals' Association of Texas; |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (7) one person, appointed by the executive director of |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; and |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (8) the executive director of the commission. |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (b) The advisory committee shall designate a member of the |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | committee as chair of the committee. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | (c) The commission may adopt rules necessary to carry out |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | the purpose and duties of the advisory committee under this Act. |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | (d) The commission shall provide administrative support and |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | resources necessary for the advisory committee to carry out the |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | purpose and duties of the committee under this Act. |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | (e) The advisory committee may meet in person or by |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | telephone conference, videoconference, or other electronic means. |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2026, the |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report to the |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | governor and the legislature. The report must: |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | (1) provide an overview of suicide prevention and peer |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | support groups in fire departments; |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | (2) address possible licensing requirements and any |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | confidentiality concerns; and |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | (3) provide recommendations on: |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | (A) the need for legislation to implement suicide |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | prevention and peer support groups in fire departments; |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | (B) whether to encourage local governments to |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | develop local suicide prevention and peer support groups in fire |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | departments; and |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | (C) specific programs to be implemented in this |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | state. |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | abolished and this Act expires January 10, 2027. |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | 1, 2025. |
|---|