Bill Text: CA AB2112 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Suicide prevention.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-4)

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 142, Statutes of 2020. [AB2112 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2112-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 2112
CHAPTER 142

An act to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 131300) to Part 1 of Division 112 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to suicide prevention.

[ Approved by Governor  September 25, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State  September 25, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2112, Ramos. Suicide prevention.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health within the California Health and Human Services Agency.
This bill would authorize the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention within the department, would require the office to perform specified duties, including providing information and technical assistance to statewide and regional partners regarding best practices on suicide prevention policies and programs and reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide, and authorize the office to apply for and use federal, state, and foundation grants. The bill would require the office to consult with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to implement suicide prevention efforts. The bill would require that the duties and responsibilities of the office be accomplished with existing staff and resources. The bill would make these provisions operative subject to an appropriation for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Suicide is a public health crisis that has warranted response from the state.
(b) Suicide risk is a lifespan issue, with a variety of groups at significant risk of death by suicide. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified groups with the greatest risk, including youth, older adults, veterans and LGBTQ people.
(c) Suicide risk is especially acute for young people. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth from 10 to 24 years of age, inclusive.
(d) The state has sought to address the causes of suicide, including research and development of a statewide strategic plan on suicide prevention. The state has further sought to address the causes of suicide through specific suicide prevention policies and programs.
(e) The state has an obligation to focus resources on combating the crisis of suicide.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 131300) is added to Part 1 of Division 112 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
CHAPTER  3. The Office of Suicide Prevention

131300.
 (a) The State Department of Public Health is hereby authorized to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention in the department pursuant to this chapter. The responsibilities of the office, if established, may include all of the following:
(1) Providing information and technical assistance to statewide and regional partners regarding best practices on suicide prevention policies and programs.
(2) Conducting state level assessment of regional and statewide suicide prevention policies and practices, including other states’ suicide prevention policies, and including specific metrics and domains as appropriate.
(3) Monitoring and disseminating data to inform prevention efforts at the state and local levels.
(4) Convening experts and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, stakeholders representing populations with high rates of suicide, to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention.
(5) Reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide.
(b) If established, the office may focus activities on groups with the highest risk, including youth, Native American youth, older adults, veterans, and LGBTQ people.
(c) The duties and responsibilities of the office, if established, shall be accomplished utilizing existing staff and resources.

131305.
 If established, the Office of Suicide Prevention may share and receive data from all entities with data relevant to the responsibilities and objectives of the office, including, but not limited to, state, federal, local, and private and nongovernmental agencies or organizations.

131310.
 If established, the Office of Suicide Prevention may apply for and utilize federal, state, and foundation grants.

131315.
 If the Office of Suicide Prevention is established pursuant to Section 131300, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The Office of Suicide Prevention shall consult with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to implement suicide prevention efforts consistent with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s Suicide Prevention Report “Striving for Zero” and described pursuant to Provision 1 of Item 4560-001-3085 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2020.
(b) This section does not authorize the Office of Suicide Prevention to perform any of the duties required by the commission under Part 3.7 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5 of, or administer any program funded by Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 5890) of Division 5 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code.

131320.
 This chapter shall become operative only if funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes.

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