85R13188 DMS-D     By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 4061       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of a task force on intentional violent   deaths.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  In this Act:                (1)  "Department" means the Department of State Health   Services.                (2)  "Task force" means the task force on intentional   violent deaths.          SECTION 2.  (a) The department shall establish a task force   on intentional violent deaths. The task force shall develop a   written plan establishing measures and a timeline to reduce   intentional violent deaths in this state, including suicides and   homicides. The department shall:                (1)  analyze current available local and state data   relating to intentional violent deaths and:                      (A)  identify gaps in the data; and                      (B)  recommend measures to improve data   collection;                (2)  analyze, to the extent feasible, the impact mental   illness has on intentional violent deaths;                (3)  review current laws in this state and other states   pertaining to addressing and preventing intentional violent   deaths; and                (4)  review national best practices relating to   policies on reducing intentional violent deaths.          (b)  The task force is composed of 11 members as follows:                (1)  two members appointed by the governor;                (2)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;                (3)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of   representatives;                (4)  one representative of each of the following   agencies appointed by the executive head of the agency:                      (A)  the department;                      (B)  the Department of Public Safety of the State   of Texas;                      (C)  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and                      (D)  the Texas Suicide Prevention Council;                (5)  one representative from a law enforcement   organization, appointed by the commissioner of state health   services; and                (6)  two representatives from public health advocacy   organizations, appointed by the department.          (c)  A task force member is not entitled to compensation or   reimbursement for expenses incurred in performing the member's   duties.          (d)  Not later than October 1, 2017, each person responsible   for appointing members to the task force shall appoint the members   as required by Subsection (b) of this section.          (e)  Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall   submit its written plan to the governor and members of the   legislature.          SECTION 3.  The task force is abolished and this Act expires   September 1, 2019.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.