Senate Bill sb0210c3

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210

    By the Committees on Health and Human Services Appropriations;
    Governmental Oversight and Productivity; Children and
    Families; and Senators Lynn, Fasano, Wilson, King and Smith



    603-2229-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to suicide prevention; creating

  3         s. 14.2019, F.S.; creating the Statewide Office

  4         for Suicide Prevention in the Executive Office

  5         of the Governor; providing the goals and

  6         objectives of the office; creating the position

  7         of statewide coordinator for the statewide

  8         office, contingent upon a specific

  9         appropriation; specifying the education and

10         experience requirements for the position of

11         coordinator; detailing the duties and

12         responsibilities of the coordinator;

13         authorizing the Statewide Office for Suicide

14         Prevention to seek and accept grants or funds

15         from any source to support its operation;

16         creating s. 14.20195, F.S.; creating the

17         Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council within

18         the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention;

19         providing the scope of activities for the

20         coordinating council; creating an interagency

21         workgroup for state agencies within the

22         coordinating council in order to coordinate

23         state agency plans for suicide prevention;

24         authorizing the coordinating council to

25         assemble an ad hoc committee to advise the

26         coordinating council; providing for membership

27         on the coordinating council; providing an

28         effective date.

29  

30  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
    603-2229-05




 1         Section 1.  Section 14.2019, Florida Statutes, is

 2  created to read:

 3         14.2019  Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.--

 4         (1)  The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention is

 5  created within the Executive Office of the Governor.

 6         (2)  The statewide office shall, within available

 7  resources:

 8         (a)  Develop a network of community-based programs to

 9  improve suicide prevention initiatives. The network shall

10  identify and work to eliminate barriers that impede providing

11  suicide prevention services to individuals who are at risk of

12  suicide. The network shall consist of stakeholders advocating

13  suicide prevention, including, but not limited to,

14  not-for-profit suicide prevention organizations, faith-based

15  suicide prevention organizations, law enforcement agencies,

16  first responders to emergency calls, suicide prevention

17  community coalitions, schools and universities, mental health

18  agencies, substance abuse agencies, health care providers, and

19  school personnel.

20         (b)  Implement the statewide plan prepared by the

21  Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.

22         (c)  Increase public awareness concerning topics

23  relating to suicide prevention.

24         (d)  Coordinate education and training curricula in

25  suicide prevention efforts for law enforcement personnel,

26  first responders to emergency calls, health care providers,

27  school employees, and other persons who may have contact with

28  persons at risk of suicide.

29         (3)  Contingent upon a specific appropriation, a

30  coordinator shall be employed for the Statewide Office for

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
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 1  Suicide Prevention. In selecting the coordinator, it should be

 2  considered whether a candidate has:

 3         (a)  The following education and employment experience:

 4         1.  A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology,

 5  sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely related

 6  field and 5 or more years of work experience in behavioral

 7  health care or a closely related field.

 8         2.  A master's or a doctoral degree in social work,

 9  psychology, sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely

10  related field and 2 or more years of work experience in

11  behavioral health or a closely related field.

12         (b)  The following skills:

13         1.  Significant professional experience in social

14  services, mental health, or a closely related field.

15         2.  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, methods

16  of facilitation, community development, behavioral health

17  treatment and prevention programs, and community-based

18  behavioral health problems.

19         3.  Experience in working with individuals and groups

20  that are representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of

21  the state.

22         4.  Experience in writing grant proposals and technical

23  reports.

24         (4)  The coordinator shall:

25         (a)  Work with the state agencies that are members of

26  the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to integrate state

27  agency programs for suicide prevention into a unified

28  statewide plan. The unified statewide plan must include a

29  suicide prevention communication plan among state agencies.

30         (b)  Review local, state, and national suicide

31  prevention programs for examples of innovative suicide

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
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 1  prevention models. If innovative models are discovered, the

 2  coordinator shall prepare a report to describe the feasibility

 3  of implementing some or all of the innovative models in this

 4  state. The report must be submitted to the Suicide Prevention

 5  Coordinating Council.

 6         (c)  Develop and maintain an Internet website with

 7  links to appropriate suicide prevention resource documents,

 8  suicide hotlines, state and community mental health agencies,

 9  and appropriate national suicide prevention organizations.

10         (d)  Identify and disseminate information regarding

11  crisis services for suicide prevention.

12         (e)  Join with stakeholders in suicide prevention to:

13         1.  Develop public awareness and media campaigns in

14  each county directed towards persons who are at risk of

15  suicide.

16         2.  Develop education and training programs for suicide

17  prevention. The education and training programs must be

18  directed first to persons who have face-to-face contact with

19  individuals who may be at risk of suicide. The training must

20  assist persons to recognize when an individual is at risk of

21  suicide and how to properly refer those individuals to

22  treatment or support services.

23         (f)  Provide technical assistance to educational

24  activities for residents of this state relating to suicide

25  prevention.

26         (g)  Cooperate with school districts to develop

27  training and counseling programs for school-based suicide

28  prevention activities. The coordinator and school districts

29  must also develop a method by which to evaluate each

30  prevention training and counseling program.

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
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 1         (h)  Review current research data and findings to

 2  identify at-risk populations, factors relating to suicide, and

 3  suicide prevention activities and disseminate this research to

 4  the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to develop

 5  strategies for preventing suicide.

 6         (i)  Develop and submit proposals to agencies of the

 7  state and Federal Government and to nongovernmental

 8  organizations for funding suicide prevention activities.

 9         (5)  The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention may

10  seek and accept grants or funds from any federal, state, or

11  local source to support its operation and defray the expenses

12  incurred in its operation and implementation.

13         (6)  Agencies under the control of the Governor or the

14  Governor and Cabinet are directed, and all others are

15  encouraged, to provide information and support to the

16  Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention as requested.

17         Section 2.  Section 14.20195, Florida Statutes, is

18  created to read:

19         14.20195  Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council;

20  creation; membership; duties.--There is created within the

21  Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention a Suicide Prevention

22  Coordinating Council. The council shall develop strategies for

23  preventing suicide.

24         (1)  SCOPE OF ACTIVITY.--The Suicide Prevention

25  Coordinating Council is a council as defined in s. 20.03(9)

26  and shall:

27         (a)  Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention

28  regarding the development of a statewide plan for suicide

29  prevention, with the guiding principle being that suicide is a

30  preventable problem. The statewide plan must:

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
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 1         1.  Align and provide direction for statewide suicide

 2  prevention initiatives.

 3         2.  Establish partnerships with state and private

 4  agencies to promote public awareness of suicide prevention.

 5         3.  Address specific populations in this state who are

 6  at risk for suicide.

 7         4.  Improve access to help individuals in acute

 8  situations.

 9         5.  Identify resources to support the implementation of

10  the statewide plan.

11         (b)  Assemble an ad hoc advisory committee with

12  membership from outside the council when necessary in order

13  for the council to receive advice and assistance in carrying

14  out its responsibilities.

15         (c)  Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide

16  Prevention.

17         (d)  Make findings and recommendations regarding

18  suicide prevention programs and activities. The council shall

19  prepare an annual report and present it to the Governor, the

20  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

21  Representatives by January 1, 2006, and each year thereafter.

22  The annual report must describe the status of existing and

23  planned initiatives identified in the statewide plan for

24  suicide prevention and any recommendations arising therefrom.

25  It shall also include information about any innovative models

26  identified in accordance with s. 14.2019(4)(b) for which

27  legislative action may be required for implementation.

28         (2)  MEMBERSHIP.--The Suicide Prevention Coordinating

29  Council shall consist of 26 members.

30  

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
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 1         (a)  Twelve members shall be appointed by the director

 2  of the Office of Drug Control and shall represent the

 3  following organizations:

 4         1.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation,

 5  Inc., described in s. 394.655.

 6         2.  The Florida Association of School Psychologists.

 7         3.  The Florida Sheriffs Association.

 8         4.  The Suicide Prevention Action Network USA.

 9         5.  The Florida Initiative of Suicide Prevention.

10         6.  The Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition.

11         7.  The Alzheimer's Association.

12         8.  The Florida School Board Association.

13         9.  Volunteer Florida.

14         10.  The state chapter of AARP.

15         11.  The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

16         12.  The Florida Council for Community Mental Health.

17         (b)  The following state officials or their designees

18  shall serve on the coordinating council:

19         1.  The Secretary of Elderly Affairs.

20         2.  The Secretary of Health.

21         3.  The Commissioner of Education.

22         4.  The Secretary of Health Care Administration.

23         5.  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice.

24         6.  The Secretary of Corrections.

25         7.  The executive director of the Department of Law

26  Enforcement.

27         8.  The executive director of the Department of

28  Veterans' Affairs.

29         9.  The Secretary of Children and Family Services.

30         10.  The director of Workforce Innovation.

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
    603-2229-05




 1         (c)  The Governor shall appoint three additional

 2  members to the coordinating council. The appointees must have

 3  expertise critical to the prevention of suicide or represent

 4  an organization that is not already represented on the

 5  coordinating council.

 6         (d)  For the members appointed by the director of the

 7  Office of Drug Control, six members shall be appointed to

 8  initial terms of 3 years and six members shall be appointed to

 9  initial terms of 4 years. For the members appointed by the

10  Governor, two members shall be appointed to initial terms of 4

11  years and one member shall be appointed to an initial term of

12  3 years. Thereafter, such members shall serve for terms of 4

13  years. Any vacancy on the coordinating council shall be filled

14  in the same manner as the original appointment, and any member

15  appointed to fill a vacancy occurring because of death,

16  resignation, or ineligibility for membership shall serve only

17  for the unexpired term of the member's predecessor. A member

18  is eligible for reappointment.

19         (e)  The director of the Office of Drug Control shall

20  be a nonvoting member of the coordinating council and shall

21  act as chair.

22         (f)  Members of the coordinating council shall serve

23  without compensation. Any member of the coordinating council

24  who is a public employee is entitled to reimbursement for per

25  diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

26         (3)  MEETINGS.--The coordinating council shall meet at

27  least quarterly or upon the call of the chair. The council

28  meetings may be held via teleconference or other electronic

29  means.

30         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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    Florida Senate - 2005              CS for CS for CS for SB 210
    603-2229-05




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                       CS for CS for SB 210

 3                                 

 4  
      -  Places the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Office of
 5       the Governor rather than the Office of Drug Control;

 6    -  Streamlines the advisory structure by removing references
         to an interagency workgroup within the Suicide Prevention
 7       Coordinating Council, but maintains the  agencies'
         responsibilities;
 8  
      -  Provides for certain appointees to have staggered terms
 9       in compliance with s. 20.052, F.S.;

10    -  Requires state agencies to support the Office of Suicide
         Prevention in its efforts;
11  
      -  Changes an unspecified Gubernatorial appointee to an
12       appointee from a specific group;

13    -  Streamlines the reports by providing for one annual
         report to the Governor and Legislature;
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      -  Makes other changes for technical correctness.
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