SB 1712                                          First Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       20221712e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Veteran Suicide Prevention
    3         Training Pilot Program; creating s. 292.115, F.S.;
    4         requiring the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
    5         establish the pilot program; providing the purpose of
    6         the pilot program; requiring pilot program
    7         participants to receive certain training; requiring
    8         the department to contract with an organization to
    9         develop the curriculum for such training; requiring
   10         the department to establish and oversee the
   11         participant certification process; requiring the
   12         department to adopt rules; requiring the department to
   13         submit an annual report to the Legislature by a
   14         specified date; providing an appropriation; providing
   15         an effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 292.115, Florida Statutes, is created to
   20  read:
   21         292.115 Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program.—
   22         (1) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall establish the
   23  Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program. The purpose
   24  of the pilot program is to offer to each Department of Veterans’
   25  Affairs claims examiner and each county and city veteran service
   26  officer, as described in s. 292.11, specialized training and
   27  certification in the prevention of veteran suicide.
   28         (2) Individuals electing to participate in the pilot
   29  program must be trained to identify indicators of elevated
   30  suicide risk and provide emergency crisis referrals for veterans
   31  expressing or exhibiting symptoms of emotional or psychological
   32  distress. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall contract
   33  with an organization having proven experience developing and
   34  implementing veteran-relevant and evidence-based suicide
   35  prevention training to develop the curriculum for such training.
   36  The department shall establish and oversee the process for
   37  certifying program participants who successfully complete such
   38  training.
   39         (3) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall adopt rules
   40  necessary to implement the pilot program.
   41         (4) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall submit a
   42  report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
   43  House of Representatives by June 30 of each year which includes
   44  information concerning the pilot program and whether any changes
   45  should be made to the pilot program which would increase its
   46  effectiveness. In its report submitted by June 30, 2026, the
   47  department shall include a recommendation of whether the pilot
   48  program should be continued.
   49         Section 2. The sum of $500,000 in nonrecurring funds is
   50  appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of
   51  Veterans’ Affairs for the purpose of implementing this act.
   52         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.