89R5962 MPF-D
By: Menéndez, Blanco S.B. No. 3020
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a biennial state report on suicide rates, the Texas
Violent Death Reporting System, and certain suicide data shared
under a memorandum of understanding.
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 K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. BIENNIAL STATE REPORT ON SUICIDE
Sec. 547.0501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Council" means the Statewide Behavioral Health
Coordinating Council.
(2) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by
Section 421.095.
(3) "Postvention" includes activities promoting
healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by an individual
affected by the suicide of another.
Sec. 547.0502. BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) The commission, in
conjunction with the Department of State Health Services, shall
prepare a biennial report on the prevalence of suicide in this state
and state policies and programs adopted across state systems and
agencies to prevent suicide. The report must:
(1) incorporate available statewide and regional data
on the prevalence rates of suicide-related events, including
suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and deaths caused by suicide,
and to the extent practicable be presented in a form that is:
(A) disaggregated by county and recognized
categories of risk; and
(B) longitudinal to identify changes in suicide
prevalence rates since 2000;
(2) identify the highest categories of risk with
correlational data;
(3) include information on the prevalence rates of
suicide-related events among active duty military personnel,
veterans, first responders, and children and adolescents;
(4) list state statutes, agency rules, and policies
related to suicide and suicide prevention, intervention, and
postvention; and
(5) describe state agency initiatives taken since 2000
to address suicide and include the following information relating
to each initiative:
(A) the administering state agency;
(B) the funding sources, including whether the
funding was provided by:
(i) a federal block grant;
(ii) a federal discretionary grant; or
(iii) state appropriations;
(C) the years of operation; and
(D) whether the initiative is a community-based
effort to address suicide.
(b) Each state agency or institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, that designates a
representative on the council shall provide to the commission the
information described by Subsection (a), to the extent that
information pertains to the respective duties of the agency or
institution.
(c) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the council shall submit a copy of the report to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction
over health and mental health.
SECTION 2. Section 193.011, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection
(b-1) to read as follows:
(a) In this section, "authorized entity" means the
department, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Statewide
Behavioral Health Coordinating Council, a medical examiner, a local
registrar, a local health authority, a local mental health
authority, a community mental health center, a mental health center
that acts as a collection agent for the suicide data reported by
community mental health centers, or any other political subdivision
of this state.
(b-1) The department and the Health and Human Services
Commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to share,
as soon as practicable, suicide data the vital statistics unit
collects for the conduct of timely fatality reviews and
surveillance to prevent additional deaths.
(c) The suicide data an authorized entity receives or
provides under Subsection (b) or (b-1) is not confidential.
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 to participate in the National Violent Death
Reporting System operated by the federal Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(b) The department shall provide suicide data obtained or
maintained through the Texas Violent Death Reporting System:
(1) in accordance with a memorandum of understanding
the department entered into under Section 193.011; and
(2) to the commission for the biennial state report on
suicide required under Subchapter K, Chapter 547, Government Code.
(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.