HCS HB 462 & 463 -- SUICIDE PREVENTION

SPONSOR:  Cooper, 155 (Smith, 118)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Health Care Policy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding suicide prevention.
In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Includes suicide prevention intervention rendered in good
faith at the scene of a threatened suicide by a mental health
professional, a health care provider, or another person who has
been trained to provide suicide prevention interventions to the
list of care or services rendered in an emergency situation that
are immune from civil liability;

(2)  Allows specified individuals to have access to mental health
records if the information could mitigate the likelihood of a
suicide;

(3)  Establishes the Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee within
the Department of Mental Health to be responsible for the
oversight, support, and promotion of departmental suicide
prevention activities and for reviewing and recommending changes
to laws, regulations, and policies; and

(4)  Requires the departments of Mental Health and Health and
Senior Services to seek additional funding from the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow participation
in the National Violent Death Reporting System.

Certain provisions of the substitute will expire six years from
the effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will enhance the
suicide prevention programs originally enacted two years ago.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Smith (118) and
Johnson (61); Department of Mental Health; and Eastern Missouri
Psychiatric Society.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Amy Woods, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm