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.