89R3313 EAS-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 193
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a model suicide prevention policy, suicide prevention
and intervention strategies incorporated into a state agency crisis
or disaster plan, suicide death information maintained by the
Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Violent Death
Reporting System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 547, Government Code, as effective April
1, 2025, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. SUICIDE PREVENTION
Sec. 547.0451. MODEL SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY. (a) In
this section, "postvention" includes activities that promote
healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by an individual
affected by the suicide of another individual.
(b) The commission shall develop and publish on the
commission's Internet website a model suicide prevention policy to
be implemented at state agencies, community coalitions, and other
public or private institutions or facilities that serve populations
at higher risk for suicide, including veterans, individuals with
disabilities, and individuals who live in rural areas of this
state. The policy must be designed for implementation by
individuals who may not be mental health professionals.
(c) The policy must include:
(1) information on suicide prevention, intervention,
and postvention;
(2) information on recognizing warning signs of
suicide; and
(3) resources, including local mental health
authorities, for individuals at risk of suicide.
(d) The policy must address the development of community
coalitions to engage in suicide prevention, intervention, and
postvention activities, especially in high-risk rural areas of this
state.
(e) In developing the policy under this section, the
commission:
(1) shall collaborate with the statewide behavioral
health coordinating council established under Subchapter D and the
Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative; and
(2) may receive information or assistance from any
other interested statewide or local entities engaged in suicide
prevention, intervention, and postvention.
Sec. 547.0452. CRISIS AND DISASTER PLANS. (a) Not later
than August 31, 2026, the commission, in collaboration with the
Disaster Behavioral Health Consortium, shall:
(1) for the purpose of identifying opportunities to
incorporate suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
strategies:
(A) conduct a review of crisis plans and disaster
plans of state agency consortium members; and
(B) identify lessons learned from responses by
state agency consortium members during prior crises or disasters;
and
(2) based on the information obtained under
Subdivision (1), recommend to each state agency consortium member
incorporating suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
strategies into a crisis plan or disaster plan.
(b) Not later than August 1, 2027, each state agency member
of the Disaster Behavioral Health Consortium shall incorporate
recommendations the commission made under Subsection (a) into the
agency's crisis plan or disaster plan.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. Section 191.002(b), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The department shall:
(1) establish a vital statistics unit in the
department with suitable offices that are properly equipped for the
preservation of its official records;
(2) establish a statewide system of vital statistics;
(3) provide instructions and prescribe forms for
collecting, recording, transcribing, compiling, and preserving
vital statistics;
(4) require the enforcement of this title and rules
adopted under this title;
(5) prepare, print, and supply to local registrars
forms for registering, recording, and preserving returns or
otherwise carrying out the purposes of this title; [and]
(6) propose legislation necessary for the purposes of
this title; and
(7) provide access to information regarding suicides
in this state to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator of
the Health and Human Services Commission's office of mental health
coordination.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.090 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.090. TEXAS VIOLENT DEATH REPORTING SYSTEM. (a)
The department shall establish and operate the Texas Violent Death
Reporting System for the purpose of participating in the National
Violent Death Reporting System operated by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(b) The department shall provide access to suicide data
obtained or maintained through the Texas Violent Death Reporting
System to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator of the
commission's office of mental health coordination.
(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 4. 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, 2025.