Bill Text: VA SB429 | 2022 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: DBHDS and VSP; development of mental health and public safety mobile applications.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-02-24 - Continued to 2023 in Health, Welfare and Institutions by voice vote [SB429 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-SB429-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 37.2-312.3 and by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 52 a section numbered 52-49.1 as follows:
§37.2-312.3. Mental health mobile application.
A. The Department shall develop or obtain a mental health mobile application for suicide prevention and the provision of educational materials related to suicide prevention. The mobile application shall provide a means to directly connect to the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. [ The Department shall ensure that the mobile application protects the identity and confidential information of any individual who uses it, except as necessary for referral to the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline or law enforcement or unless confidentiality is waived by the individual. ]
B. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Education shall determine and direct the appropriate agencies to promote, market, and advertise the use of the mental health mobile application throughout the Commonwealth through such agencies' existing staff and digital programs [ and social media platforms ] .
§52-49.1. Public safety mobile application.
A. The Department of State Police shall develop or obtain a public safety mobile application to provide to individuals in the Commonwealth a platform that is capable of receiving text, audio, images, and video to submit confidential tips concerning a suspected, anticipated, or completed criminal violation, including bullying and threats of school violence. The Department of State Police shall develop a referral system to ensure that tips received through the mobile application are referred to the chief law-enforcement officer of the relevant jurisdiction for proper coordination of response and investigation. Such coordination shall include the local school board, the threat assessment team established pursuant to §22.1-79.4 or 23.1-805, or any other relevant entity. [ The Department of State Police shall ensure that the mobile application protects the identity and confidential information of any individual who uses it, except as necessary for referral to the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline or another law-enforcement agency or unless confidentiality is waived by the individual. ]
B. The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall determine and direct the appropriate agencies to promote, market, and advertise the use of the public safety mobile application throughout the Commonwealth through such agencies' existing staff and digital programs [ and social media platforms ] .
2. That the provisions of §37.2-312.3 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, shall become effective on July 1, 2023.
[ 3. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless an appropriation effectuating the purposes of this act is included in a general appropriation act passed in 2022 by the General Assembly that becomes law. ]
