Bill Text: CA AB2198 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Mental health professionals: suicide prevention training.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2014-09-18 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2198 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB2198-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2198	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Levine
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Hill)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to add Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 4999.150) to
Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing
arts.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2198, as introduced, Levine. Mental health professionals:
suicide prevention training.
   Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various
professionals who provide mental health-related services, including
psychologists, marriage and family therapists, educational
psychologists, and clinical social workers. Under existing law, an
applicant for licensure in these professions is required to complete
certain coursework or training in order to be eligible for a license.
Existing law also requires these professionals to participate in
continuing education as a prerequisite for renewing their license.
   This bill would require a mental health professional, defined to
include, but not be limited to, certain types of professionals, to
complete a training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and
management that is administered by the relevant board or other state
entity responsible for the licensure and regulation of the mental
health professional. The bill would require the Department of
Consumer Affairs to conduct a study evaluating the effect of
evidence-based suicide assessment, treatment, and management training
on the ability of licensed health care professionals to identify,
refer, treat, and manage patients with suicidal ideation, and would
require the department, no later than January 1, 2016, to prepare and
submit to the Legislature report summarizing the findings of that
study.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 4999.150) is added
to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 17.  MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION
TRAINING


   4999.150.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention:
   (1) In 2008, more than 36,000 people died by suicide in the United
States, making it the 10th leading cause of death nationally.
   (2) During 2007 to 2008, inclusive, an estimated 569,000 people
visited hospital emergency departments with self-inflicted injuries
in the United States, 70 percent of whom had attempted suicide.
   (b) According to a national study, veterans face an elevated risk
of suicide as compared to the general population, more than twice the
risk among male veterans. Another study has indicated a positive
correlation between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide.
   (c) Research continues on how the effects of wartime service and
injuries such as traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress
disorder, or other service-related conditions, may increase the
number of veterans who attempt suicide.
   (d) As more men and women separate from the military and
transition back into civilian life, community mental health providers
will become a vital resource to help these veterans and their
families deal with issues that may arise.
   (e) Suicide has an enormous impact on the family and friends of
the victim as well as the community as a whole.
   (f) Approximately 90 percent of people who die by suicide had a
diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death. Most suicide
victims exhibit warning signs or behaviors prior to an attempt.
   (g) Improved training and education in suicide assessment,
treatment, and management has been recommended by a variety of
organizations, including the United States Department of Health and
Human Services and the Institute of Medicine.
   (h) It is the intent of the Legislature to help lower the suicide
rate in this state by requiring certain health professionals to
complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as
part of their continuing education, continuing competency, or
recertification requirements.
   (i) The Legislature does not intend to expand or limit the
existing scope of practice of any health professional affected by
this chapter.
   4999.151.  As used in this chapter, "mental health professional"
includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
   (a) A psychologist.
   (b) A marriage and family therapist.
   (c) A clinical social worker.
   4999.152.  Commencing January 1, 2015, a mental health
professional subject to this chapter shall complete a training
program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as
prescribed by this chapter and administered by the relevant board or
other state entity responsible for the licensure and regulation of
the mental health professional.
   4999.153.  (a) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall conduct a
study evaluating the effect of evidence-based suicide assessment,
treatment, and management training on the ability of licensed health
care professionals to identify, refer, treat, and manage patients
with suicidal ideation.
   (b) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall prepare and submit to
the Legislature, no later than January 1, 2016, a report summarizing
the findings of the study pursuant to subdivision (a). The report
shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code.
   (c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends
that date.