HB 527

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to suicide prevention; creating s.
3	397.3335, F.S.; creating the Statewide Office for Suicide
4	Prevention in the Office of Drug Control; providing the
5	goals and objectives of the office; creating the position
6	of statewide coordinator for the statewide office,
7	contingent upon a specific appropriation; specifying the
8	education and experience requirements for the position of
9	coordinator; detailing the duties and responsibilities of
10	the coordinator; authorizing the Statewide Office for
11	Suicide Prevention to seek and accept grants or funds from
12	any source to support its operation; creating s. 397.3336,
13	F.S.; creating the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council
14	within the Office of Drug Control; providing the scope of
15	activities for the coordinating council; creating an
16	interagency workgroup for state agencies within the
17	coordinating council in order to coordinate state agency
18	plans for suicide prevention; authorizing the coordinating
19	council to assemble an ad hoc committee to advise the
20	coordinating council; requiring a report to the Governor
21	and Legislature; providing for membership on and meetings
22	of the coordinating council; providing per diem and travel
23	expenses for coordinating council members; providing an
24	effective date.
25
26	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28	Section 1.  Section 397.3335, Florida Statutes, is created
29	to read:
30	397.3335  Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.--
31	(1)(a)  The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention is
32	created in the Office of Drug Control within the Executive Office
33	of the Governor.
34	(b)  The statewide office shall develop a network of
35	community-based programs to improve suicide prevention
36	initiatives. The network shall identify and work to eliminate
37	barriers that impede providing suicide prevention services to
38	individuals who are at risk of suicide.
39	(c)  The network of community-based programs shall consist
40	of stakeholders advocating suicide prevention, including, but not
41	limited to, not-for-profit suicide prevention organizations,
42	faith-based suicide prevention organizations, law enforcement
43	agencies, first responders to emergency calls, suicide prevention
44	community coalitions, schools and universities, mental health
45	agencies, substance abuse agencies, health care providers, and
46	school personnel.
47	(2)  The statewide office shall, within available resources:
48	(a)  Implement the statewide plan prepared by the Suicide
49	Prevention Coordinating Council.
50	(b)  Build a network of community-based programs to
51	integrate suicide prevention initiatives into program activities.
52	(c)  Increase public awareness concerning topics relating to
53	suicide prevention.
54	(d)  Coordinate education and training curricula in suicide
55	prevention efforts for law enforcement personnel, first
56	responders to emergency calls, health care providers, school
57	employees, and other persons who may have contact with persons at
58	risk of suicide.
59	(e)  Direct an interagency workgroup within the Suicide
60	Prevention Coordinating Council to prepare a suicide prevention
61	communication plan among state agencies. The communication plan
62	must be incorporated into the council's statewide plan.
63	(3)  Contingent upon a specific appropriation, the director
64	of the Office of Drug Control shall employ a coordinator for the
65	Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention. In selecting the
66	coordinator, the director of the Office of Drug Control should
67	consider whether a candidate has:
68	(a)  The following education and employment experience:
69	1.  A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology,
70	sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely related field
71	and 5 or more years of work experience in behavioral health care
72	or a closely related field.
73	2.  A master's or a doctoral degree in social work,
74	psychology, sociology, counseling, public health, or a closely
75	related field and 2 or more years of work experience in
76	behavioral health or a closely related field.
77	(b)  The following skills:
78	1.  Significant professional experience in social services,
79	mental health, or a closely related field.
80	2.  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, methods of
81	facilitation, community development, behavioral health treatment
82	and prevention programs, and community-based behavioral health
83	problems.
84	3.  Experience in working with community groups and
85	constituents that are diverse and representative of the gender,
86	ethnic, and racial populations in this state.
87	4.  Experience in writing grant proposals and technical
88	reports.
89	(4)  The coordinator shall work under the direction of the
90	director of the Office of Drug Control to achieve the goals and
91	objectives set forth in this section. The coordinator shall:
92	(a)  Facilitate an interagency workgroup within the Suicide
93	Prevention Coordinating Council to integrate state agency
94	programs for suicide prevention into a unified statewide plan.
95	(b)  Review local, state, and national suicide prevention
96	programs for examples of innovative suicide prevention models. If
97	innovative models are discovered, the coordinator shall prepare a
98	report to describe the feasibility of implementing some or all of
99	the innovative models in this state. The report must be filed
100	with the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
101	Representatives, and the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council
102	after review and approval of the report by the director of the
103	Office of Drug Control. The innovative models, and the
104	feasibility of their implementation in this state, shall be
105	evaluated by the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, which
106	shall file a report with the President of the Senate, the Speaker
107	of the House of Representatives, and the Governor if the council
108	determines that legislation is necessary to implement an
109	innovative model.
110	(c)  Develop and maintain an Internet website with links to
111	appropriate suicide prevention resource documents, suicide
112	hotlines, state and community mental health agencies, and
113	appropriate national suicide prevention organizations.
114	(d)  Identify and disseminate information regarding crisis
115	services for suicide prevention.
116	(e)  Join with stakeholders in suicide prevention to develop
117	public awareness and media campaigns in each county directed
118	towards persons who are at risk of suicide.
119	(f)  Provide technical assistance to educational activities
120	for residents of this state relating to suicide prevention.
121	(g)  Cooperate with school districts to develop training and
122	counseling programs for school-based suicide prevention
123	activities. The coordinator and school districts must also
124	develop a method by which to evaluate each prevention training
125	and counseling program.
126	(h)  Join with stakeholders in suicide prevention to develop
127	education and training programs for suicide prevention. The
128	education and training programs must be directed first to persons
129	who have face-to-face contact with individuals who may be at risk
130	of suicide. The training must assist persons to recognize when an
131	individual is at risk of suicide and how to properly refer those
132	individuals to treatment or support services.
133	(i)  Review current research data and findings to identify
134	at-risk populations, factors relating to suicide, and suicide
135	prevention activities and disseminate this research to the
136	Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to develop strategies for
137	preventing suicide.
138	(j)  Develop and submit proposals to agencies of the state,
139	the Federal Government, and nongovernmental organizations for
140	funding suicide prevention activities.
141	(5)  The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention may seek
142	and accept grants or funds from any federal, state, or local
143	source to support its operation and defray the expenses incurred
144	in its operation and implementation.
145	Section 2.  Section 397.3336, Florida Statutes, is created
146	to read:
147	397.3336  Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council; creation;
148	membership; duties.--There is created within the Office of Drug
149	Control a Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council. The council
150	shall develop strategies for preventing suicide.
151	(1)  SCOPE OF ACTIVITY.--The Suicide Prevention Coordinating
152	Council is a coordinating council as defined in s. 20.03(9) and
153	shall:
154	(a)  Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention
155	regarding the development of a statewide plan for suicide
156	prevention, with the guiding principle being that suicide is a
157	preventable problem. The statewide plan must:
158	1.  Align and provide direction for statewide suicide
159	prevention initiatives.
160	2.  Establish partnerships with state and private agencies
161	to promote public awareness of suicide prevention.
162	3.  Address specific populations in this state who are at
163	risk for suicide.
164	4.  Improve access to help individuals in acute situations.
165	5.  Identify resources to support the implementation of the
166	statewide plan.
167	(b)  Create an interagency workgroup within the council in
168	order to incorporate state agency plans for suicide prevention
169	into the statewide plan. The interagency workgroup must include,
170	but need not be limited to:
171	1.  The Secretary of Elderly Affairs, or his or her
172	designee.
173	2.  The Secretary of Health, or his or her designee.
174	3.  The Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee.
175	4.  The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or
176	her designee.
177	5.  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice, or his or her
178	designee.
179	6.  The executive director of the Department of Law
180	Enforcement, or his or her designee.
181	7.  The Secretary of Children and Family Services, or his or
182	her designee.
183	8.  The Secretary of Corrections, or his or her designee.
184	9.  The executive director of the Department of Veterans'
185	Affairs, or his or her designee.
186	10.  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, or
187	his or her designee.
188	(c)  Assemble an ad hoc advisory committee with membership
189	from outside the council when necessary in order for the council
190	to receive advice and assistance in carrying out its
191	responsibilities.
192	(d)  Advise the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.
193	(e)  Make findings and recommendations regarding suicide
194	prevention programs and activities. The council shall prepare an
195	annual report and present it to the Governor, the President of
196	the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
197	January 1, 2007, and each year thereafter. The annual report must
198	describe the status of existing and planned initiatives
199	identified in the statewide plan for suicide prevention and any
200	recommendations arising therefrom.
201	(2)  MEMBERSHIP.--The Suicide Prevention Coordinating
202	Council shall consist of 25 members.
203	(a)  Eleven members shall be appointed by the director of
204	the Office of Drug Control and shall represent the following
205	organizations:
206	1.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, Inc.,
207	described in s. 394.655.
208	2.  The Florida Association of School Psychologists.
209	3.  The Florida Sheriffs Association.
210	4.  The Suicide Prevention Action Network USA.
211	5.  The Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention.
212	6.  The Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition.
213	7.  The Alzheimer's Association.
214	8.  The Florida School Board Association.
215	9.  Volunteer Florida, Inc.
216	10.  Florida AARP.
217	11.  The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.
218	(b)  The following state officials shall be appointed to the
219	coordinating council:
220	1.  The Secretary of Elderly Affairs, or his or her
221	designee.
222	2.  The Secretary of Health, or his or her designee.
223	3.  The Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee.
224	4.  The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or
225	her designee.
226	5.  The Secretary of Juvenile Justice, or his or her
227	designee.
228	6.  The Secretary of Corrections, or his or her designee.
229	7.  The executive director of the Department of Law
230	Enforcement, or his or her designee.
231	8.  The executive director of the Department of Veterans'
232	Affairs, or his or her designee.
233	9.  The Secretary of Children and Family Services, or his or
234	her designee.
235	10.  The director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, or
236	his or her designee.
237	(c)  The Governor shall appoint four additional members to
238	the coordinating council. The appointees must have expertise
239	critical to the prevention of suicide or represent an
240	organization that is not already represented on the coordinating
241	council.
242	(d)  Council members shall be appointed to terms of 4 years
243	each. Any vacancy on the coordinating council shall be filled in
244	the same manner as the original appointment, and any member
245	appointed to fill a vacancy occurring because of death,
246	resignation, or ineligibility for membership shall serve only for
247	the unexpired term of the member's predecessor. A member is
248	eligible for reappointment.
249	(e)  Members of the coordinating council shall serve without
250	compensation. Any member of the coordinating council who is a
251	public employee is entitled to reimbursement for per diem and
252	travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
253	(3)  MEETINGS.--
254	(a)  The director of the Office of Drug Control shall be a
255	nonvoting, ex officio member of the coordinating council and
256	shall act as chair.
257	(b)  The coordinating council shall meet at least quarterly
258	or upon the call of the chair. The council meetings may be held
259	via teleconference or other electronic means.
260	(c)  Public organizations shall participate and cooperate
261	with the coordinating council.
262	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.