HB6252: SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL IN COMMITTEE (Date Completed: 12-18-18)

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 Commissions, 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.

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

Membership

The Commission would consist of the following 25 members:

-- Nine members, appointed by the Governor.

-- The Michigan Veterans' Facility Ombudsman, or his or her designee.

-- Two members, appointed by the Director of the Michigan State Police, at least one of whom had expertise in drug addiction.

-- Two members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom represented a faith-based organization and one of whom who was employed by or volunteered for a suicide crisis hotline or suicide prevention services program selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of Counties.

-- Two members, appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, one of whom had expertise in suicide prevention from a community mental health services program that held a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and one of whom who had expertise in workplace stress and suicide prevention.

-- Nine members appointed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The nine members appointed by the Governor would be as follows:

-- One who was a suicide prevention researcher with a doctor of philosophy degree from a university that was located in Michigan who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of State Universities.

-- An undergraduate or graduate student who was studying or working in the area of suicide prevention who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of State Universities.

-- One who was selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators.

-- One who was selected from a list submitted by the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan.

-- One who represented health plans who was selected from lists submitted by the Michigan Association of Health Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

-- One who had knowledge or expertise in vulnerable adult mental health issues who was selected from a list submitted by the Fraternal Order of Police.

-- One who was selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.

-- One who was selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

-- One who was selected from a list submitted by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.

Of the nine members appointed by the DHHS Director, eight would have to be appointed as follows:

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Psychological Association.

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Psychiatric Society.

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Nurses Association.

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.

-- One who was selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Disabilities Rights Coalition.

-- One who was a suicide loss survivor.

-- One who was a suicide attempt survivor.

Terms & First Meeting

The members first appointed to the Commission would have to be appointed within 90 days after the bill's effective date. Commission members would serve for two years or until a successor was appointed, whichever was later. A vacancy would have to be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. The Commission chairperson could remove a member for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or for any other good cause.

The Legislative Council Administrator would have to call the first meeting of the Commission. At that meeting, the Commission would have to elect a chairperson and other officers as it considered necessary or appropriate. The Commission then would have to meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by five or more members.

A majority of the Commission members would constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Commission. A majority of those members present and serving would be required for official action. The Commission would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Members of the Commission would have to serve without compensation; however, members could be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

Commission Duties

The Commission would have to work with State departments and agencies and nonprofit organizations on researching the causes and possible underlying factors of suicide in the State. The study would have to focus on demographics showing the highest suicide rates in the State in the decade immediately preceding the bill's effective date, and the highest growth in suicide rates during the same time period.

By January 1, 2020, the Commission would have to prepare and present a preliminary report of its research and findings to the Legislature. The report would have to include the possible causes for the increase in suicide rates and recommendations for reducing risk factors among the demographics described above, and any other information that it considered relevant.

By June 1, 2021, and each year thereafter, it would have to prepare and present to the Legislature an updated version of the report.

The Commission also would have to do all of the following:

-- Annually review and update any recommendations it made and, if any of its recommendations were implemented, monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

-- Provide recommendations for a process for continued State coordination on suicide prevention data collection and a coordinated State approach to the prevention of suicide to continue after the bill no longer applied.

The Commission could, through its chairperson, research policy recommendations from relevant sources and policy initiatives from other States in order to make recommendations to the Governor and to the chairpersons of the House and Senate standing committees on Health Policy and the Judiciary on initiatives to reduce suicide rates among the studied demographics.

The Commission could establish subcommittees that could consist of individuals who were not members of the Commission, including experts in matters of interest to the Commission.

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