Senate Bill sb1008
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
By Senator Lynn
7-155-06
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; authorizing the
28 council to accept grants and other funding;
29 providing an appropriation and authorizing an
30 additional position; providing an effective
31 date.
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
2
3 Section 1. Section 14.2019, Florida Statutes, is
4 created to read:
5 14.2019 Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.--
6 (1) The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention is
7 created within the Executive Office of the Governor.
8 (2) The statewide office shall, within available
9 resources:
10 (a) Develop a network of community-based programs to
11 improve suicide-prevention initiatives. The network shall
12 identify and work to eliminate barriers that impede providing
13 suicide-prevention services to individuals who are at risk of
14 suicide. The network shall consist of stakeholders advocating
15 suicide prevention, including, but not limited to,
16 not-for-profit suicide-prevention organizations, faith-based
17 suicide-prevention organizations, law enforcement agencies,
18 first responders to emergency calls, suicide-prevention
19 community coalitions, schools and universities, mental health
20 agencies, substance-abuse treatment agencies, health care
21 providers, and school personnel.
22 (b) Implement the statewide plan prepared by the
23 Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
24 (c) Increase public awareness concerning topics
25 relating to suicide prevention.
26 (d) Coordinate education and training curricula in
27 suicide-prevention efforts for law enforcement personnel,
28 first responders to emergency calls, health care providers,
29 school employees, and other persons who may have contact with
30 persons at risk of suicide.
31
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 (3) Contingent upon a specific appropriation, a
2 coordinator shall be employed for the Statewide Office for
3 Suicide Prevention. In selecting the coordinator, it should be
4 considered whether a candidate has:
5 (a) The following education and employment experience:
6 1. A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology,
7 sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely related
8 field and 5 or more years of work experience in behavioral
9 health care or a closely related field.
10 2. A master's or a doctoral degree in social work,
11 psychology, sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely
12 related field and 2 or more years of work experience in
13 behavioral health or a closely related field.
14 (b) The following skills:
15 1. Significant professional experience in social
16 services, mental health, or a closely related field.
17 2. Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, methods
18 of facilitation, community development, behavioral health
19 treatment and prevention programs, and community-based
20 behavioral health problems.
21 3. Experience in working with individuals and groups
22 that are representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of
23 the state.
24 4. Experience in writing grant proposals and technical
25 reports.
26 (4) The coordinator shall:
27 (a) Work with the state agencies that are members of
28 the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to integrate state
29 agency programs for suicide prevention into a unified
30 statewide plan. The unified statewide plan must include a
31 suicide-prevention communication plan among state agencies.
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 (b) Review local, state, and national
2 suicide-prevention programs for examples of innovative
3 suicide-prevention models. If innovative models are
4 discovered, the coordinator shall prepare a report to describe
5 the feasibility of implementing some or all of the innovative
6 models in this state. The report must be submitted to the
7 Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
8 (c) Develop and maintain an Internet website that has
9 links to appropriate suicide-prevention resource documents,
10 suicide hotlines, state and community mental health agencies,
11 and appropriate national suicide-prevention organizations.
12 (d) Identify and disseminate information regarding
13 crisis services for suicide prevention.
14 (e) Join with stakeholders in suicide prevention in
15 order to:
16 1. Develop public awareness and media campaigns in
17 each county directed towards persons who are at risk of
18 suicide.
19 2. Develop education and training programs for suicide
20 prevention. The education and training programs must be
21 directed first to persons who have face-to-face contact with
22 individuals who may be at risk of suicide. The training must
23 assist persons to recognize when an individual is at risk of
24 suicide and how to properly refer those individuals to
25 treatment or support services.
26 (f) Provide technical assistance to educational
27 activities for residents of this state relating to suicide
28 prevention.
29 (g) Cooperate with school districts to develop
30 training and counseling programs for school-based
31 suicide-prevention activities. The coordinator and school
4
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 districts must also develop a method by which to evaluate each
2 prevention training and counseling program.
3 (h) Review current research data and findings to
4 identify at-risk populations, factors relating to suicide, and
5 suicide-prevention activities and disseminate this research to
6 the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to develop
7 strategies for preventing suicide.
8 (i) Develop and submit proposals to agencies of the
9 state and federal governments and to nongovernmental
10 organizations for funding suicide-prevention activities.
11 (5) The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention may
12 seek and accept grants or funds from any federal, state, or
13 local source to support its operation and defray the expenses
14 incurred in its operation and implementation.
15 (6) Agencies under the control of the Governor or the
16 Governor and Cabinet are directed, and all others are
17 encouraged, to provide information and support to the
18 Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention as requested.
19 Section 2. Section 14.20195, Florida Statutes, is
20 created to read:
21 14.20195 Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council;
22 creation; membership; duties.--There is created within the
23 Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention a Suicide Prevention
24 Coordinating Council. The council shall develop strategies for
25 preventing suicide.
26 (1) SCOPE OF ACTIVITY.--The Suicide Prevention
27 Coordinating Council is a council as defined in s. 20.03(9)
28 and shall:
29 (a) Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention
30 regarding the development of a statewide plan for suicide
31
5
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 prevention, with the guiding principle being that suicide is a
2 preventable problem. The statewide plan must:
3 1. Align and provide direction for statewide
4 suicide-prevention initiatives.
5 2. Establish partnerships with state and private
6 agencies to promote public awareness of suicide prevention.
7 3. Address specific populations in this state who are
8 at risk for suicide.
9 4. Improve access to help individuals in acute
10 situations.
11 5. Identify resources to support the implementation of
12 the statewide plan.
13 (b) Assemble an ad hoc advisory committee with
14 membership from outside the council when necessary in order
15 for the council to receive advice and assistance in carrying
16 out its responsibilities.
17 (c) Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide
18 Prevention.
19 (d) Make findings and recommendations regarding
20 suicide-prevention programs and activities. The council shall
21 prepare an annual report and present it to the Governor, the
22 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
23 Representatives by January 1, 2007, and each year thereafter.
24 The annual report must describe the status of existing and
25 planned initiatives identified in the statewide plan for
26 suicide prevention and any recommendations arising therefrom.
27 It shall also include information about any innovative models
28 identified in accordance with s. 14.2019(4)(b) for which
29 legislative action may be required for implementation.
30 (2) MEMBERSHIP.--The Suicide Prevention Coordinating
31 Council shall consist of 26 members.
6
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
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.
31
7
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
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 (4) FUNDING.--The coordinating council may seek and
31 accept grants or funds from any federal, state, or local
8
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1008
7-155-06
1 source to support its operation and defray the expenses
2 incurred in its operation and implementation of this section.
3 Section 3. The sum of $100,000 is appropriated from
4 the General Revenue Fund, and one additional full-time
5 equivalent position is authorized, to the Office of Drug
6 Control for the purpose of implementing this act during the
7 2006-2007 fiscal year.
8 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
9
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.