Additional Bill Links PDF (with line numbers)
HOUSE BILL NO. 590
INTRODUCED BY J. KARJALA, L. BISHOP, Z. BROWN, G. CUSTER, J. ECK, M. FUNK, E. HILL SMITH, D. LENZ, W. MCKAMEY, G. PIERSON, S. STEWART-PEREGOY, J. WINDY BOY
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING STATE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM LAWS; PROVIDING GRANTS FOR YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTION 53-21-1101, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 53-21-1101, MCA, is amended to read:
"53-21-1101. Suicide prevention officer -- duties. (1) The department of public health and human services shall implement a suicide prevention program by January 1, 2008. The program must be administered by a suicide prevention officer attached to the office of the director of the department.
(2) The suicide prevention officer shall:
(a) coordinate all suicide prevention activities being conducted by the department, including activities in the addictive and mental disorders division, the health resources division, and the public health and safety division, and coordinate with any suicide prevention activities that are conducted by other state agencies, including the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the department of corrections, the department of military affairs, and the university system;
(b) develop a biennial suicide reduction plan that addresses reducing suicides by Montanans of all ages, ethnic groups, and occupations;
(c) direct a statewide suicide prevention program with evidence-based activities that include but are not limited to:
(i) conducting statewide public awareness campaigns utilizing both paid and free media and including input from government agencies, school representatives from elementary schools through higher education, mental health advocacy groups, and other relevant nonprofit organizations;
(ii) initiating, in partnership with Montana's tribes and tribal organizations, a public awareness program that is culturally appropriate and that utilizes the modalities best suited for Indian country;
(iii) seeking opportunities for research that will improve understanding of suicide in Montana and provide increased suicide-related services;
(iv) training for medical professionals, military personnel, school personnel, social service providers, and the general public on recognizing the early warning signs of suicidality, depression, and other mental illnesses; and
(v) providing grants to communities or other government, nonprofit, or tribal entities to start new or sustain existing suicide prevention activities entities including but not limited to tribes, tribal and urban health organizations, local governments, schools, health care providers, professional associations, and other nonprofit and community organizations for development or expansion of suicide prevention programs."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Youth suicide prevention grants. (1) The department of public health and human services shall administer a grant program from funds appropriated by the legislature for youth suicide prevention activities pursuant to this section AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN ARTICLE XII, SECTION 4, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION AND 17-6-603(3) THAT INTEREST INCOME ON THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT TRUST FUND BE USED FOR BENEFITS, SERVICES, OR COVERAGE RELATED TO THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF MONTANANS. TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE PROVISIONS, GRANT FUNDS MUST BE USED FOR HEALTH CARE AS DEFINED IN 50-4-504(4), AND THE SERVICES MUST BE PROVIDED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN 50-16-504(7).
(2) (a) To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity:
(I) shall (2) (A) THE DEPARTMENT MAY GRANT FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION ONLY TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN 50-16-504(7) THAT IS ABLE TO demonstrate credible evidence to the department that the activity to be funded is effective in preventing suicide; AND
(II) MUST BE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN 50-16-504 OR USE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN 50-16-504 TO OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF THE GRANT-FUNDED ACTIVITY.
(b) An activity must be considered effective if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
(i) it has been cited as effective by peer-reviewed research or literature;
(ii) it was a formally adopted recommendation of the Montana suicide review team established in section 3, Chapter 353, Laws of 2013;
(iii) it is a recommended strategy described in the native youth suicide reduction strategic plan, January 2017; or
(iv) it involves efforts that seek to:
(A) reduce factors that increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors; or
(B) increase the factors that help strengthen, support, and protect individuals from suicide.
(c) Examples of activities that may be funded include but are not limited to:
(i) training and implementation of primary care or school-based depression screening;
(ii) prevention activities directed at school children with demonstrated effectiveness at building resiliency against suicide;
(iii) mechanisms for scaling evidence-based therapies to larger numbers of youth and communities, such as online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and other technological interventions;
(iv) activities to increase knowledge of and response to adverse childhood experiences; and
(v) mental health resiliency training for youth or lay counselors for adults.
(3) A GRANT-FUNDED ACTIVITY MUST BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN 50-16-504(7).
(3)(4) When evaluating grant applications, the department shall prioritize projects and activities that serve Indian youth and populations with statistically higher rates of suicide.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation. There is appropriated from the tobacco settlement proceeds in the state special revenue account established in 17-6-603 to the department of public health and human services $1 million for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, for youth suicide prevention grants under [section 2].
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to each tribal government located on the seven Montana reservations and to the Little Shell Chippewa tribe.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2017.
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Termination. [Section 2] terminates June 30, 2019.
- END -
Latest Version of HB
590 (HB0590.03)
Processed for the Web on March 28, 2017 (7:26pm)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this
Bill | 2017
Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill
(PDF format)
Authorized print version of this bill
w/line numbers (PDF format)
[ NEW
SEARCH ]
Prepared by Montana
Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064