SB503: Bill Text

SB503,1,2 An Act to create 20.435 (5) (dm) and 51.03 (7) of the statutes; relating to: implementing a suicide prevention program and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Health Services to implement a suicide prevention program, coordinate suicide prevention activities with other state agencies, administer grant programs involving suicide prevention, and perform various other functions specified in the bill to promote efforts to prevent suicide. The bill authorizes two positions in DHS for implementing the suicide prevention program, one of which is the director of the suicide prevention program.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB503,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB503,2 Section 2 . 20.435 (5) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB503,2,3 20.435 (5) (dm) Statewide suicide prevention program. The amounts in the schedule for implementing the suicide prevention program under s. 51.03 (7).

SB503,3 Section 3 . 51.03 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB503,2,9 51.03 (7) (a) The department shall implement a suicide prevention program that creates public awareness for issues relating to suicide prevention, builds community networks, and conducts training programs on suicide prevention for law enforcement personnel, health care providers, school employees, and other persons who have contact with persons at risk of suicide.

SB503,2,11 (b) As part of the suicide prevention program under this subsection, the department shall do all of the following:

SB503,2,12 1. Coordinate suicide prevention activities with other state agencies.

SB503,2,14 2. Provide educational activities to the general public relating to suicide prevention.

SB503,2,17 3. Provide training to persons who routinely interact with persons at risk of suicide, including training on recognizing persons at risk of suicide and referring those persons for appropriate treatment or support services.

SB503,2,19 4. Develop and carry out public awareness and media campaigns in each county targeting groups of persons who are at risk of suicide.

SB503,3,1 5. Enhance crisis services relating to suicide prevention.

SB503,3,4 6. Link persons trained in the assessment of and intervention in suicide with schools, public community centers, nursing homes, and other facilities serving persons most at risk of suicide.

SB503,3,6 7. Coordinate the establishment of local advisory groups in each county to support the efforts of the suicide prevention program under this subsection.

SB503,3,12 8. Work with groups advocating suicide prevention, community coalitions, managers of existing crisis hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified, and staff members of mental health agencies in this state to identify and address the barriers that interfere with providing services to groups of persons who are at risk of suicide, including elderly persons, Native Americans, youths, and residents of rural communities.

SB503,3,16 9. Develop and maintain an Internet site with links to appropriate resource documents, suicide hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified, credentialed professional personnel, state and local mental health agencies, and appropriate national organizations.

SB503,3,19 10. Review current research on data collection for factors related to suicide and develop recommendations for improved systems of surveillance for suicide and uniform collection of data related to suicide.

SB503,3,21 11. Develop and submit proposals for funding from federal government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.

SB503,3,22 12. Administer grant programs involving suicide prevention.

SB503,4,2 13. By January 1, 2021, and by January 1 of each year thereafter, submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) that describes suicide prevention activities in this state, including information received in the course of administering suicide prevention grant programs.

SB503,4 Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB503,4,9 (1) Suicide prevention program; director and staff. The authorized FTE positions for the department of health services are increased by 2.0 GPR positions on the effective date of this subsection to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (dm), for the purpose of providing a director of the suicide prevention program under s. 51.03 (7) and staff to implement the suicide prevention program under 51.03 (7).

SB503,4,10 (End)