June 12, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Runestad, Brann, Tedder, Dianda, Peterson, Cochran, Cambensy, Lucido, Howrylak, Hertel, Hoadley and Greimel and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to create a suicide prevention commission within the
department of health and human services 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) "Department" means the department of health and human
services.
(c) "Director" means the director of the department.
Sec. 3. (1) The suicide prevention commission is created
within the department.
(2) The commission consists of the following 19 members,
appointed as follows:
(a) Three members appointed by the governor, at least 1 of
whom is a suicide prevention researcher from a university located
in this state who is selected from a list of nominees submitted by
the Michigan Association of State Universities and at least 1 of
whom is a student 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.
(b) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
(c) One member appointed by the senate majority leader.
(d) Seven members appointed by the director, at least 5 of
whom are selected as follows:
(i) One member from a suicide crisis hotline or suicide
prevention services program who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan Association of Counties.
(ii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan chapter of the National Association of
Social Workers.
(iii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan Psychological Association.
(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.
(e) Four members selected by the director of the department of
state police, as follows:
(i) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.
(ii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
(iii) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.
(iv) One member who is selected from a list of nominees
submitted by the Michigan chapter of the Michigan State Police
Troopers Association.
(f) One member who is selected by the children's ombudsman.
(g) One member who is selected by the director of the
department of military and veterans affairs.
(h) One member who is selected by the Michigan veterans'
facility ombudsman.
(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 4 years
or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later, except that
of the members first appointed, 3 shall serve for 1 year, 3 shall
serve for 2 years, 3 shall serve for 3 years, and 10 shall serve
for 4 years.
(5) If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the director shall
make an appointment for the unexpired term.
(6) The director may remove a member of the commission for
incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or
nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.
(7) The director 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. The commission shall do all of the following:
(a) Work with state departments and agencies and nonprofit
organizations on studying 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 from
January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2017, and the highest growth in
suicide rates during the time period described in this subdivision.
(b) By January 1, 2019, prepare and present a report of its
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.
(c) Act as an advisory body to the department.
(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.
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 on initiatives to reduce suicide rates among the
demographics described in section 5.
Sec. 9. The department shall furnish administrative services
to the commission and provide staff necessary to allow the proper
exercise of the powers and duties of the commission. The department
shall provide adequate office space to the commission.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the
date it is enacted into law.