85R7085 EES-D     By: Lucio S.B. No. 1694       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to suicide prevention training for certain mental health   professionals.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 116 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 116. SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH   PROFESSIONALS          Sec. 116.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "mental health   professional" and "mental health services" have the meanings   assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code.          Sec. 116.002.  SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING. (a) A mental   health professional must complete four hours of suicide prevention   training before the mental health professional may provide mental   health services:                (1)  in the scope of employment with this state;                (2)  under a contract with this state;                (3)  in the scope of employment with an organization   that receives funding from this state; or                (4)  under a contract with an organization that   receives funding from this state.          (b)  The Department of State Health Services, the Texas   Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas State Board of   Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of   Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners   of Professional Counselors, and the Texas State Board of Social   Worker Examiners shall jointly approve suicide prevention training   courses that may be completed by mental health professionals to   satisfy the suicide prevention training requirement of Subsection   (a).          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall develop a   process for notifying mental health professionals who are employed   by or provide mental health services under a contract with this   state or an organization that receives funding from this state of   the suicide prevention training requirement of Section 116.002(a),   Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  Section 116.002(a), Occupations Code, as added   by this Act, applies only to mental health services provided as   described by that section on or after September 1, 2019.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.