CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 234

Introduced by Assembly Member Ramos

January 12, 2021

An act to amend Section 131300 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 234, as introduced, Ramos. Office of Suicide Prevention
Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention within the department, and requires 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.
This bill would remove the limitation that, should the office be established, all duties and responsibilities of the office be carried out using existing staff and resources.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 131300 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

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.