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.