Bill Text: TX HB1593 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-12 - Filed [HB1593 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB1593-Introduced.html
| 89R6425 SCF-F | ||
| By: Campos | H.B. No. 1593 | |
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| relating to an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and | ||
| peer support programs in fire departments in this state. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
| (1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee | ||
| established under this Act. | ||
| (2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire | ||
| Protection. | ||
| (3) "Fire department" has the meaning assigned by | ||
| Section 419.021, Government Code. | ||
| (4) "Fire fighter" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
| 143.003, Local Government Code. | ||
| SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The commission shall | ||
| establish an advisory committee to study the need to implement | ||
| suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in | ||
| this state. The committee is composed of the following members: | ||
| (1) two fire fighters, appointed by the Texas State | ||
| Association of Fire Fighters; | ||
| (2) two fire fighters, appointed by the State | ||
| Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; | ||
| (3) two fire chiefs, appointed by the Texas Fire | ||
| Chiefs Association; | ||
| (4) one person who is licensed to provide professional | ||
| mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and | ||
| Safety Code, appointed by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association; | ||
| (5) one person who is licensed to provide professional | ||
| mental health services as defined by Section 531.002, Health and | ||
| Safety Code, appointed by the Texas State Association of Fire | ||
| Fighters; | ||
| (6) one person who is licensed to provide professional | ||
| mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and | ||
| Safety Code, appointed by the State Firefighters' and Fire | ||
| Marshals' Association of Texas; | ||
| (7) one person, appointed by the executive director of | ||
| the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; and | ||
| (8) the executive director of the commission. | ||
| (b) The advisory committee shall designate a member of the | ||
| committee as chair of the committee. | ||
| (c) The commission may adopt rules necessary to carry out | ||
| the purpose and duties of the advisory committee under this Act. | ||
| (d) The commission shall provide administrative support and | ||
| resources necessary for the advisory committee to carry out the | ||
| purpose and duties of the committee under this Act. | ||
| (e) The advisory committee may meet in person or by | ||
| telephone conference, videoconference, or other electronic means. | ||
| SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2026, the | ||
| advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report to the | ||
| governor and the legislature. The report must: | ||
| (1) provide an overview of suicide prevention and peer | ||
| support groups in fire departments; | ||
| (2) address possible licensing requirements and any | ||
| confidentiality concerns; and | ||
| (3) provide recommendations on: | ||
| (A) the need for legislation to implement suicide | ||
| prevention and peer support groups in fire departments; | ||
| (B) whether to encourage local governments to | ||
| develop local suicide prevention and peer support groups in fire | ||
| departments; and | ||
| (C) specific programs to be implemented in this | ||
| state. | ||
| SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is | ||
| abolished and this Act expires January 10, 2027. | ||
| SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
| 1, 2025. | ||
