BillCam

SB-0228, As Passed Senate, May 7, 2019

SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 228

A bill to create a suicide prevention commission within the

legislative council and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to

prescribe the powers and duties of certain state officers and

entities.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Commission" means the suicide prevention commission

created in section 3.

(b) "Council" means the legislative council established under

section 15 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963.

described in section 5.

Sec. 3. (1) The suicide prevention commission is created

within the council.

(2) The commission consists of the following 25 members:

(a) Eleven members appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) One member who is a researcher with an advanced degree

from a university that is located in this state who is selected

from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of

State Universities.

(ii) An undergraduate or graduate student who is studying or

working in the area of suicide prevention who is selected from a

list of nominees submitted by the American Foundation for Suicide

Prevention.

(iii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School

Administrators and who is trained in the "Michigan Model for

Health" curriculum.

(iv) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan.

(v) One member who represents health plans who is selected

from lists of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of

Health Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

(vi) One member who has knowledge or expertise in retiree or

vulnerable adult mental health issues who is selected from a list

of nominees submitted by the Fraternal Order of Police.

(vii) One member who is a suicide loss survivor who is

selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan

Sheriffs' Association.

(viii) One member who has experience in suicide prevention who

is selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan

Association of Chiefs of Police.

(ix) One member who is experienced in crisis intervention for

suicide response who is selected from a list of nominees submitted

by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.

(x) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs.

(xi) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Corrections Organization.

(b) The Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman or his or her

designee.

department of state police with expertise in substance use

disorders.

(d) Two members who are appointed by the speaker of the house

of representatives, 1 of whom represents a faith-based organization

and 1 who is selected from a list of nominees submitted by the

Michigan Professional Firefighters Union.

(e) Two members who are appointed by the senate majority

leader, at least 1 of whom has expertise in suicide prevention from

a community mental health services program that holds a grant from

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

(f) Eight members appointed by the director of the department

of health and human services, including 7 appointed as follows:

(i) One member who represents a substance use disorder

treatment provider who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan.

(ii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Psychological Association.

(iii) One member who is a member of the National Alliance on

Mental Illness who is selected from a list of nominees submitted by

the Michigan Psychiatric Society.

(iv) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Primary Care Association.

(v) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and who

meets both of the following requirements:

(A) Is a physician licensed to engage in the practice of

medicine or the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(B) Has expertise in neurology.

(vi) An individual who is in charge of a local health

department or his or her designee.

(vii) One member who is a suicide attempt survivor.

(3) The members first appointed to the commission must be

appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this act.

(4) Members of the commission shall serve for 1 term of 4

years or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later.

(5) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same

manner as the original appointment. A member appointed to fill a

vacancy shall be appointed for the balance of the unexpired term.

(6) The chairperson of the commission may remove a member of

the commission for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance,

misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause, on

a motion that is approved by a majority of the members of the

commission.

(7) The council administrator shall call the first meeting of

the commission. At the first meeting, the commission shall elect

from among its members a chairperson; and other officers as it

considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the

commission shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the

call of the chairperson or if requested by 5 or more members.

(8) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a

quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the

commission. A majority of the members present and serving are

required for official action of the commission.

(9) The business that the commission may perform must be

conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance

with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or

retained by the commission in the performance of an official

function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,

MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(11) Members of the commission shall serve without

compensation. However, members of the commission may be reimbursed

for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance

of their official duties as members of the commission.

Sec. 5. (1) The commission shall do all of the following:

(a) Work with state departments and agencies and nonprofit

organizations on researching the causes and possible underlying

factors of suicide in this state. The research must focus on

demographics showing the highest suicide rates in this state in the

decade immediately preceding the effective date of this act, and

the highest growth in suicide rates during the time period

described in this subdivision. In determining the demographics, the

commission shall consider, at a minimum, rural and urban areas,

race, sex, occupation, age, and socioeconomic status.

(b) By 6 months after the effective date of this act, prepare

and present a preliminary report of its research and findings to

the legislature. The report must include identified causes for the

increase in suicide rates among the demographics described in

subdivision (a) and any other information the commission considers

relevant.

year thereafter, prepare and present to the legislature an updated

version of the report described in subdivision (b). The updated

version of the report must include recommendations for reducing

risk factors among the demographics described in subdivision (a)

and contain a list of evidence-based programs for suicide

prevention in this state with successful outcomes.

(d) Annually review and update any recommendations made under

this act and, if any of the commission's recommendations are

implemented, provide a process for ongoing monitoring of the

implementation of the recommendations.

(e) Provide recommendations for a process for continued state

coordination on suicide data collection, suicide prevention

programs, and a coordinated state approach to the prevention of

suicide to continue after this act no longer applies.

(2) At the first meeting of the commission, the commission

shall establish a 7-member executive committee that consists of all

of the following:

(a) Two members elected by the commission from among its

members.

(b) The member appointed to the commission by the governor

under section 3(2)(a)(i).

designee.

(d) The member appointed to the commission by the director of

the department of state police under section 3(2)(c).

(e) One member selected by the director of the department of

health and human services from the commission members appointed

under section 3(2)(f).

(f) One member selected by the senate majority leader from the

commission members appointed under section 3(2)(e).

(3) The executive committee shall do all of the following:

(a) Oversee the compilation of data and available resources in

coordination with universities in this state.

(b) Set timelines and tasks for the completion of the

commission's work by December 30, 2024.

(4) The commission shall also establish subcommittees that may

consist of individuals who are not members of the commission,

including, but not limited to, experts in matters of interest to

the commission, including the demographics described in subsection

(1)(a).

Sec. 7. The commission may, through its executive committee,

research policy recommendations from relevant sources and policy

initiatives from other states in order to make recommendations to

the governor and to the chairpersons of the house and senate

standing committees on health policy and the judiciary on

initiatives to reduce suicide rates among the demographics

described in section 5.

Sec. 9. The council shall furnish clerking services to the

commission.

Sec. 11. This act does not apply beginning December 31, 2024.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the

date it is enacted into law.