SENATE BILL NO. 228
March 19, 2019, Introduced by Senators
RUNESTAD, WOJNO, LUCIDO, IRWIN, MACDONALD, JOHNSON and HOLLIER and referred
to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
(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) Ten 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 retiree or vulnerable adult mental health issues who is selected from a list submitted by the Fraternal Order of Police.
(vii) One member who is a suicide loss survivor who is selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.
(viii) One member who has experience in suicide prevention who is selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
(ix) One member with expertise in suicide response who is selected from a list submitted by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.
(x) One member who is selected from a list submitted by the Michigan Corrections Organization.
(b) The Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman or his or her designee.
(c) One member who is appointed by the director of the department of state police with 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 represents nonmanagement-level laborers.
(e) Two members who are appointed by the senate majority leader, at least 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.
(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 selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Michigan chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
(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.
(c) By June 1, 2021, and each year thereafter, prepare and 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 shall 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, including the demographics described in subsection (1)(a).
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.