85R11987 MM-D     By: Thierry H.B. No. 3407       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a task force to address suicide   prevention at public institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter W-1 to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER W-1.  TASK FORCE TO PREVENT SUICIDE AT INSTITUTIONS OF   HIGHER EDUCATION          Sec. 51.861.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.                (2)  "Task force" means the task force established   under this subchapter.          Sec. 51.862.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. A task force is   established under this subchapter to develop a strategy to prevent   suicide at institutions of higher education.          Sec. 51.863.  TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The task force   consists of 13 members appointed as follows:                (1)  two members appointed by the governor;                (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;                (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house   of representatives;                (4)  four members appointed by the presiding officer of   the task force;                (5)  one representative from The University of Texas'   counseling and mental health center appointed by the chancellor of   The University of Texas System;                (6)  one representative from Texas A&M University's   student counseling services appointed by the chancellor of The   Texas A&M University System; and                (7)  one representative of the Department of State   Health Services appointed by the executive commissioner of the   Health and Human Services Commission.          (b)  Members of the task force must be individuals who are:                (1)  actively involved in the prevention of suicide and   the improvement of student welfare; or                (2)  employed by an institution of higher education.          (c)  Appointments to the task force shall be made without   regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or   national origin of the appointee.          (d)  A task force member is not entitled to compensation for   service on the task force.          (e)  The presiding officer of the task force is the member   who represents The University of Texas' counseling and mental   health center.          (f)  The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding   officer. The task force may meet by teleconference.          (g)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   task force.          Sec. 51.864.  TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall   identify:                (1)  all existing programs in the state relating to   preventing suicide at institutions of higher education; and                (2)  the programs described by Subdivision (1) that   receive state money.          (b)  The task force shall develop recommendations for   reducing suicide and for improving student welfare at institutions   of higher education.  In developing recommendations, the task force   shall:                (1)  gather information concerning suicide and student   welfare at institutions of higher education, including information   regarding:                      (A)  the race, gender, area of study, and year of   study for students who have committed suicide, attempted to commit   suicide, or sought services related to suicide from a counseling   center;                      (B)  protocols on each campus for responding to   students in distress, intervention, treatment, re-entry, and   post-crisis intervention;                      (C)  the availability of online resources and   hotlines;                      (D)  efforts to screen students for behavioral   health disorders and suicidal ideation;                      (E)  efforts to enforce suicide means restriction   and reduce access to lethal means;                      (F)  counselor-to-student ratios;                      (G)  student groups raising awareness about   suicide prevention and behavioral health problems; and                      (H)  social media coping resources, including   online resources;                (2)  receive reports and testimony from individuals,   state and local governmental agencies, community-based   organizations, and other public and private organizations; and                (3)  create goals for state policy that would prevent   suicide and improve student welfare at institutions of higher   education.          Sec. 51.865.  SUPPORT AGENCY DUTIES. The Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board, the Department of State Health   Services, The University of Texas System, and The Texas A&M   University System shall:                (1)  provide administrative support services to the   task force;                (2)  coordinate administrative responsibilities with   the task force to avoid unnecessary duplication of duties;                (3)  share the costs of the task force, including   administrative expenses; and                (4)  each designate a person to serve as a liaison with   the task force.          Sec. 51.866.  CONSULTATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES; PRIVATE   FOUNDATIONS. (a) The task force shall consult with employees of   the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Department of   State Health Services, The University of Texas System, and The   Texas A&M University System as necessary to accomplish the task   force's responsibilities under this subchapter.          (b)  The task force may collaborate as necessary with any   appropriate state agency, including institutions of higher   education.          (c)  The task force may consult with private foundations that   have made a substantial commitment to the prevention of suicide to   accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this   subchapter.          Sec. 51.867.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2018, the   task force shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant   governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report   that includes:                (1)  a description of the activities of the task force;                (2)  the findings of the task force on the current state   of suicide at institutions of higher education;                (3)  recommendations on best practices for higher   education policies and protocols for preventing suicide; and                (4)  any other matter the task force considers   appropriate.          Sec. 51.868.  FUNDING; ACCOUNT. (a) The task force shall   review the funding strategies for the task force and develop   proposals for expanding the sources of funds available to finance   the activities of the task force.          (b)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from   individuals or private or public organizations and accept federal   and local funds to support the task force.          (c)  The suicide prevention task force account is an account   in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be   appropriated only to the task force for the purposes of this   subchapter. The suicide prevention task force account is exempt   from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code. The   account consists of:                (1)  gifts and grants to the task force;                (2)  money received by the task force from federal,   state, or local government; and                (3)  notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government Code,   all interest attributable to money held in the account.          Sec. 51.869.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and   this subchapter expires September 1, 2019.          SECTION 2.  The members of the task force shall be appointed   as required by Section 51.863, Education Code, as added by this Act,   not later than October 1, 2017.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.