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2017 SESSION

17103640D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2258
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled January 11, 2017
A BILL to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, together with the Secretary of Public Safety, to convene a task force to raise public awareness of suicide and increase suicide prevention education.
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Patrons-- Filler-Corn, Bell, John J., Kory, Murphy and Watts; Senators: Deeds and Howell
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall, together with the Secretary of Public Safety, convene a task force to raise public awareness of suicide and increase suicide prevention education among stakeholders in key positions to help reduce the incidence of suicide in the Commonwealth, including licensed pharmacists, operators of pharmacies permitted by the Board of Pharmacy, licensed firearm dealers, and operators of sport shooting ranges. Such task force shall include representatives of the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Criminal Justice Services, Game and Inland Fisheries, Health, State Police, and Veterans Services; the Board of Pharmacy; law enforcement; the firearms industry; pharmacies; pharmacists; suicide prevention organizations; and other interested stakeholders. The task force shall (i) develop and disseminate online training on suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies to firearm dealers and sport shooting ranges, (ii) develop written materials that provide information related to suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies that are tailored to be effective for firearm owners for distribution to firearm dealers and sport shooting ranges and in hunting safety classes, (iii) review materials on firearm safety prepared by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and other state agencies and recommend changes to such information to incorporate information on suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies, (iv) develop information and written materials on suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies to be included in training provided through schools of pharmacy in the Commonwealth and provide input on suicide awareness and prevention training being developed for pharmacists; (v) develop written materials that provide information related to suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies for distribution to pharmacies; and (vi) create a website to make information and materials about suicide awareness and suicide prevention strategies available to the public. The task force shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on its activities and conclusions by December 1, 2017.