Bill Text: TX SB2492 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to study suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to Local Government [SB2492 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2492-Introduced.html
By: Middleton | S.B. No. 2492 | |
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relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to study | ||
suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in | ||
this state. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Fire | ||
Protection. | ||
(2) "Fire department" has the meaning assigned by | ||
Section 419.021, Government Code. | ||
(3) "Fire fighter" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
143.003, Local Government Code. | ||
SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The commission shall | ||
establish an advisory committee to study the need to implement | ||
suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments in | ||
this state. The committee is composed of the following members: | ||
(1) two fire fighters, appointed by the Texas State | ||
Association of Firefighters; | ||
(2) two fire chiefs, appointed by the Texas Fire | ||
Chiefs Association; | ||
(3) one person who is licensed to provide professional | ||
mental health services, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and | ||
Safety Code, appointed by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association; | ||
(4) one person who is licensed to provide professional | ||
mental health services as defined by Section 531.002, Health and | ||
Safety Code, appointed by the Texas State Association of | ||
Firefighters; and | ||
(5) the executive director of the commission. | ||
(b) The committee shall designate a member of the committee | ||
as chair of the committee. | ||
(c) The commission may adopt rules necessary to carry out | ||
the purpose and duties of the committee under this Act. | ||
(d) The commission shall provide administrative support and | ||
resources necessary for the committee to carry out the purpose and | ||
duties of the committee under this Act. | ||
(e) The committee may meet in person or by telephone | ||
conference, videoconference, or other electronic means. | ||
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2024, the | ||
advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report to the | ||
governor and the legislature. The report must: | ||
(1) provide an overview of suicide prevention and peer | ||
support groups in fire departments; | ||
(2) address possible licensing requirements and any | ||
confidentiality concerns; and | ||
(3) provide recommendations on: | ||
(A) the need for legislation to implement suicide | ||
prevention and peer support groups in fire departments; | ||
(B) whether to encourage local governments to | ||
develop local suicide prevention and peer support groups in fire | ||
departments; and | ||
(C) specific programs to be implemented in this | ||
state. | ||
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee created | ||
by this Act is abolished and this Act expires January 10, 2025. | ||
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2023. |