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

California Assembly Bill 2112 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2112

Introduced by Assembly Member Ramos
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)

February 06, 2020

An act to amend Section 438 of, and to add Section 438.5 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2112, as introduced, Ramos. Youth suicide prevention.

Existing law establishes the Office of the Surgeon General within the California Health and Human Services Agency, and provides that the office is responsible for specified activities, including raising public awareness on and coordinating policies governing scientific screening and treatment for toxic stress and adverse childhood events.

This bill would additionally require the office to marshall the insights and energy of specified individuals, including medical professionals and public health experts, to address the needs of youth at risk of suicide, and to establish offices to research and advise the Legislature and the agency on youth suicide and youth behavioral health.

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 especially acute for young people. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24, inclusive.

(c) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer youth are especially at risk of suicide. For instance, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.

(d) The state has sought to address the causes of youth suicide through bullying and harassment prevention and intervention by parents and teachers, but there is still more work to do to prevent youth suicide.

(e) The state has an obligation to focus resources on combating the crisis of youth suicide.

SEC. 2.

Section 438 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

438.

The Office of the Surgeon General is hereby established within the California Health and Human Services Agency. The office shall be responsible for all of the following:

(a) Raising public awareness on and coordinating policies governing scientific screening and treatment for toxic stress and adverse childhood events.

(b) Advising the Governor, the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, and policymakers on a comprehensive approach to address health issues and challenges, including toxic stress and adverse childhood events, as effectively and early as possible.

(c) Marshalling the insights and energy of medical professionals, scientists, and other academic experts, public health experts, public servants, and everyday Californians to ~~solve~~ do both of the following:

(1) Solve our most pressing health challenges, including toxic stress and adverse childhood events.

(2) Address the needs of youth at risk of suicide.

SEC. 3.

Section 438.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code, immediately following Section 438, to read:

438.5.

The Office of the Surgeon General shall establish offices to research and advise the Legislature and the California Health and Human Services Agency on the following issues:

(a) Youth suicide, specifically adolescent and pre-adolescent suicide.

(b) Youth behavioral health, specifically as this issue relates to toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences.