SUICIDE PREVENTION COMMISSION                                                       H.B. 6252 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 6252 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Jim Runestad

House Committee:  Judiciary                                                                                      

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would enact a new law to create the "Suicide Prevention Commission" within the Legislative Council and to do all of the following:

-- Provide for the appointment of members to the Commission, their terms, and the Commission's procedures.

-- Prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the Commission, such as researching the cause and possible underlying factors of suicide in the State.

-- By January 1, 2020, require the Commission to prepare a preliminary report of its research and findings, and require the Commission to complete a revised report annually thereafter.

-- Require the Legislative Council to furnish clerking services to the Commission.

-- Specify that the Act would not apply beginning December 31, 2026.

                                                                             Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the State's Legislative Council. The bill would create the Suicide Prevention Commission. Commission members would not receive a salary; however, they would be eligible for reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Legislative Council also would have to provide the Commission with clerking services, which could include assistance with its tasks of working with other entities, studying suicide prevention factors, and filing a report with the Legislature. The bill does not specify the number of staff that would be needed, if any; however, the current estimated average annual cost for 1.0 FTE for a classified State employee is $105,000 gross, $55,500 General Fund/General Purpose for salary and benefits. The estimate could be

higher or lower based on the classification level of the FTEs hired.  Also, the most recent commission housed in the Legislative Council (the Criminal Justice Policy Commission) has received a total of $550,000 since it was created in 2015, which included per diem reimbursements to Commission members.

Date Completed:  12-19-18                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.