By: Toth H.B. No. 551
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on the prevalence of the use of psychoactive or
  psychotropic medication by persons who have committed suicide.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this Act:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Psychoactive medication" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 242.505, Health and Safety Code.
               (3)  "Psychotropic medication" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 266.001, Family Code.
         (b)  The commission shall conduct a study evaluating the
  prevalence of the use of psychoactive or psychotropic medication by
  persons who are reported to have committed suicide.  The study must
  evaluate:
               (1)  for persons for whom a report described by
  Subsection (c) indicated the use of psychoactive or psychotropic
  medication:
                     (A)  the period of time the person was taking
  psychoactive or psychotropic medication;
                     (B)  the medication the person was taking;
                     (C)  whether there is evidence of the person
  experiencing withdrawal symptoms; and
                     (D)  if applicable, the period of time the person
  was experiencing withdrawal symptoms; and
               (2)  for persons for whom a report described by
  Subsection (c) did not indicate the use of psychoactive or
  psychotropic medication:
                     (A)  whether there is evidence of the person
  having recently discontinued using psychoactive or psychotropic
  medication; and
                     (B)  whether there is evidence of the person
  experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
         (c)  In conducting the study, the commission shall use
  autopsy reports, toxicology reports, police reports, and other
  information related to persons who are reported to have committed
  suicide that are:
               (1)  collected between January 1, 2016, to December 31,
  2022; and
               (2)  concerning persons who resided in counties with a
  population of 450,000 or more.
         (d)  Not later than October 1, 2023, the commission shall
  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and
  the speaker of the house of representatives a written report
  containing the results of the study.
         (e)  The study required by this Act is a public record under
  Chapter 552, Government Code.
         (f)  The commission shall comply with all applicable state
  and federal laws regarding personally identifiable information in
  conducting the study.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.