FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Committee on Health Care Policy April 15, 2003, with recommendation that the House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 618 Do
Pass by Consent.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 630, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to suicide.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 630, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 630.900, to read as follows:
630.900. 1. The director of the department of mental health, in partnership with the department of health and senior services and in collaboration with the departments of social services, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and corrections, and other appropriate agencies, organizations, and institutions in the community, shall design a proposed state suicide prevention plan using an evidence-based public health approach focused on suicide prevention.
2. The plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Promoting the use of employee assistance and workplace programs to support employees with depression and other psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders, and refer them to services. In promoting such programs, the director shall collaborate with employer and professional associations, unions, and safety councils;
(2) Promoting the use of student assistance and educational programs to support students with depression and other psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders. In promoting such programs, the director shall collaborate with educators, administrators, students, and parents with emphasis on identification of the risk factors associated with suicide;
(3) Providing training and technical assistance to local public health and other community-based professionals to provide for integrated implementation of best practices for preventing suicides;
(4) Assisting health care providers and family members who are caring for patients at risk of suicide ro assisted suicide because such patients are terminally ill, disabled, depressed, or suffering from chronic or acute pain. Such assistance shall include but not be limited to methodologies for providing pain management and emotional support so such patients will not seek suicide or assisted suicide as a mistaken form of relief;
(5) Establishing a toll-free suicide prevention hotline; and
(6) Coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies to collect, analyze, and annually issue a public report on Missouri-specific data on suicide and suicidal behaviors.
3. The proposed state suicide prevention plan designed and developed pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the general assembly by December 31, 2004, and shall include any recommendations regarding statutory changes and implementation and funding requirements of the plan.