HB-6252, As Passed House, December 12, 2018

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 6252

A bill to create a suicide prevention commission within the

legislative council and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to

prescribe the powers and duties of certain state officers and

entities.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Commission" means the suicide prevention commission

created in section 3.

(b) "Council" means the legislative council established under

section 15 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963.

Sec. 3. (1) The suicide prevention commission is created

within the council.

(2) The commission consists of the following 25 members:

(a) Nine members appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) One member who is a suicide prevention researcher with a

doctor of philosophy degree from a university that is located in

this state who is selected from a list of nominees submitted by the

Michigan Association of State Universities.

(ii) An undergraduate or graduate student who is studying or

working in the area of suicide prevention who is selected from a

list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of State

Universities.

(iii) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the

Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators.

(iv) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the

School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan.

(v) One member who represents health plans who is selected

from lists submitted by the Michigan Association of Health Plans

and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

(vi) One member who has knowledge or expertise in vulnerable

adult mental health issues who is selected from a list submitted by

the Fraternal Order of Police.

(vii) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the

Michigan Sheriffs' Association.

(viii) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the

Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

(ix) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the

Police Officers Association of Michigan.

(b) The Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman or his or her

designee.

department of state police, at least 1 of whom has expertise in

drug addiction.

(d) Two members who are appointed by the speaker of the house

of representatives, 1 of whom represents a faith-based organization

and 1 of whom is employed by or volunteers for a suicide crisis

hotline or suicide prevention services program who is selected from

a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan Association of

Counties.

(e) Two members who are appointed by the senate majority

leader, 1 of whom has expertise in suicide prevention from a

community mental health services program that holds a grant from

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and 1

of whom has expertise in workplace stress and suicide prevention.

(f) Nine members appointed by the director of the department

of health and human services, including 8 appointed as follows:

(i) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan chapter of the National Association of

Social Workers.

(ii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Psychological Association.

(iii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Psychiatric Society.

(iv) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Nurses Association.

(v) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.

(vi) One member who is selected from a list of nominees

submitted by the Michigan Disabilities Rights Coalition.

(vii) One member who is a suicide loss survivor.

(viii) One member who is a suicide attempt survivor.

(3) The members first appointed to the commission must be

appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this act.

(4) Members of the commission shall serve for terms of 2 years

or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later.

(5) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same

manner as the original appointment. A member appointed to fill a

vacancy shall be appointed for the balance of the unexpired term.

(6) The chairperson of the commission may remove a member of

the commission for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance,

misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause, on

a motion that is approved by a majority of the members of the

commission.

(7) The council administrator shall call the first meeting of

the commission. At the first meeting, the commission shall elect

from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it

considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the

commission shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the

call of the chairperson or if requested by 5 or more members.

(8) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a

quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the

commission. A majority of the members present and serving are

required for official action for the commission.

(9) The business that the commission may perform must be

conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance

with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or

retained by the commission in the performance of an official

function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,

MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(11) Members of the commission shall serve without

compensation. However, members of the commission may be reimbursed

for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance

of their official duties as members of the commission.

Sec. 5. (1) The commission shall do all of the following:

(a) Work with state departments and agencies and nonprofit

organizations on researching the causes and possible underlying

factors of suicide in this state. The study must focus on

demographics showing the highest suicide rates in this state in the

decade immediately preceding the effective date of this act, and

the highest growth in suicide rates during the time period

described in this subdivision.

(b) By January 1, 2020, prepare and present a preliminary

report of its research and findings to the legislature. The report

must include the possible causes for the increase in suicide rates

and recommendations for reducing risk factors among the

demographics described in subdivision (a) and any other information

the commission considers relevant.

present to the legislature an updated version of the report

described in subdivision (b).

(d) Annually review and update any recommendations made under

this act and, if any of the commission's recommendations are

implemented, monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

(e) 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 this act no longer applies.

(2) The commission may establish subcommittees that may

consist of individuals who are not members of the commission,

including, but not limited to, experts in matters of interest to

the commission.

Sec. 7. The commission may, 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 demographics described in section 5.

Sec. 9. The council shall furnish clerking services to the

commission.

Sec. 11. This act does not apply beginning December 31, 2026.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the

date it is enacted into law.