AB 2032: Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force.
- Session Year: 2021-2022
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2022-08-26
Existing law, the California Suicide Prevention Act of 2000, allows the State Department of Health Care Services, contingent upon appropriation, to establish and implement a suicide prevention, education, and gatekeeper training program to reduce the severity, duration, and incidence of suicidal behaviors. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention to, among other things, convene experts and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, stakeholders representing populations with high rates of suicide, to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention.
This bill would require the department to establish an Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce military and veteran suicides and to develop a plan to eliminate all military and veteran suicides in the state, as specified. Commencing June 1, 2025, the bill would require the task force to submit a specified report to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of veteran suicide prevention, as specified, including, among other things, an analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state.
Existing law, the California Suicide Prevention Act of 2000, allows the State Department of Health Care Services, contingent upon appropriation, to establish and implement a suicide prevention, education, and gatekeeper training program to reduce the severity, duration, and incidence of suicidal behaviors. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention to, among other things, convene experts and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, stakeholders representing populations with high rates of suicide, to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention.
This bill would require the department to establish an Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce military and veteran suicides and to develop a plan to eliminate all military and veteran suicides in the state, as specified. Commencing June 1, 2024, 2025, the bill would require the task force to submit a specified report to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of veteran suicide prevention, as specified, including, among other things, an analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state.
Existing law, the California Suicide Prevention Act of 2000, allows the State Department of Health Care Services, contingent upon appropriation, to establish and implement a suicide prevention, education, and gatekeeper training program to reduce the severity, duration, and incidence of suicidal behaviors. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention to, among other things, convene experts and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, stakeholders representing populations with high rates of suicide, to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention.
This bill would require the department to establish an Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce military and veteran suicides and to develop a plan to eliminate all military and veteran suicides in the state, as specified. Commencing June 1, 2024, the bill would require the task force to submit a specified report to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of veteran suicide prevention, as specified, including, among other things, an analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state.
Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to activate the Emergency Alert System at the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency if a child 17 years of age or younger, or an individual with a proven mental or physical disability, has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, and other conditions are met. Existing law authorizes a law enforcement agency to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Silver Alert, as defined, if the agency receives a report of a missing person who is 65 years of age or older, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired, and certain conditions are met, including that all local resources have been utilized and the disappearance is unexplained or suspicious. Upon concurrence by the Department of the California Highway Patrol that the conditions have been met, existing law requires the department to issue the alert, which may take the form of a be-on-the-lookout alert, an Emergency Digital Information Service message, or an electronic flyer, within the geographical area.This bill would authorize a law enforcement agency to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Green Alert, as defined, if the agency receives a report of a missing person who is a veteran at risk of suicide, and certain conditions are met. Upon concurrence by the Department of the California Highway Patrol that the conditions have been met, the bill would require the department to activate a Green Alert within the geographical area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency.Existing law requires the California Highway Patrol to activate the Emergency Alert System at the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency if a child 17 years of age or younger, or an individual with a proven mental or physical disability, has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, and other conditions are met. Existing law authorizes a law enforcement agency to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Silver Alert, as defined, if the agency receives a report of a missing person who is 65 years of age or older, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired, and certain conditions are met, including that all local resources have been utilized and the disappearance is unexplained or suspicious. Upon concurrence by the Department of the California Highway Patrol that the conditions have been met, existing law requires the department to issue the alert, which may take the form of a be-on-the-lookout alert, an Emergency Digital Information Service message, or an electronic flyer, within the geographical area.
This bill would authorize a law enforcement agency to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Green Alert, as defined, if the agency receives a report of a missing person who is a veteran at risk of suicide, and certain conditions are met. Upon concurrence by the Department of the California Highway Patrol that the conditions have been met, the bill would require the department to activate a Green Alert within the geographical area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency.
(a)The department shall establish the Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce, on an annual basis, military and veteran suicides and to provide a plan by June 1, 2025, for the elimination of all military and veteran suicides in the state by January 1, 2030. The task force shall recommend comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing suicide among military members and veterans in California and shall recommend ways to establish and execute plans and programs to implement those strategies.
(b)The task force shall consist of all of the following:
(1)Stakeholders from the Military Departments mental health, chaplaincy, and other programs tasked with morale and welfare.
(2)The Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide one representative.
(3)The department shall invite representatives from the United States Department of Defense and each of the armed services.
(4)The department shall invite other veterans service organizations, state and local mental health officials, and researchers with relevant subject matter expertise.
(c)The department shall support the task force and ensure the task force is able to carry out its duties. The department may use its existing resources to absorb the task forces costs in implementing this subdivision. The department may accept and expend funds from nongovernmental sources for its work with the task force.
(d)The task force shall, at a minimum, meet quarterly. The task force may meet virtually.
(e)Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for participation in the task force and shall not receive any per diem.
(f)(1)The department shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, that includes all of the following:
(A)An analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state. This part of the report shall include a specific set of near-, intermediate-, and long-term benchmarks that can be used to measure the states progress toward the goal of eliminating military and veteran suicides by January 1, 2030.
(B)A survey and analysis of existing programs currently available from federal, state, and local governmental and nongovernmental agencies that deal with suicide, military suicide, and veteran suicide.
(C)An analysis of the success achieved by each program that can lead to recommendations from the task force on how California can eliminate the military and veteran suicide problem.
(D)An analysis of the factors of alienation, strained relationships, finances, family disruptions, and career challenges associated with suicidal ideation and how to provide services to address those factors as experienced by military members, California National Guard members who live in geographically diverse areas that are far from military bases and mental health care facilities, and veterans.
(2)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(a)The department shall establish the Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce, on an annual basis, military and veteran suicides and to provide a plan by June 1, 2024, 2025, for the elimination of all military and veteran suicides in the state by January 1, 2028. 2030. The task force shall recommend comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing suicide among military members and veterans in California and shall recommend ways to establish and execute plans and programs to implement those strategies.
(b)The task force shall consist of all of the following:
(1)Stakeholders from the Military Departments mental health, chaplaincy, and other programs tasked with morale and welfare.
(2)The Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide one representative.
(3)The department shall invite representatives from the United States Department of Defense and each of the armed services.
(4)The department shall invite other veterans service organizations, state and local mental health officials, and researchers with relevant subject matter expertise.
(c)The department shall support the task force and ensure the task force is able to carry out its duties. The department may use its existing resources to absorb the task forces costs in implementing this subdivision. The department may accept and expend funds from nongovernmental sources for its work with the task force.
(d)The task force shall, at a minimum, meet quarterly. The task force may meet virtually.
(e)Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for participation in the task force and shall not receive any per diem.
(d)(f)(1)The department shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2024, 2025, and annually thereafter, that includes all of the following:
(A)An analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state. This part of the report shall include a specific set of near-, intermediate-, and long-term benchmarks that can be used to measure the states progress toward the goal of eliminating military and veteran suicides by January 1, 2028. 2030.
(B)A survey and analysis of existing programs currently available from federal, state, and local governmental and nongovernmental agencies that deal with suicide, military suicide, and veteran suicide.
(C)An analysis of the success achieved by each program that can lead to recommendations from the task force on how California can eliminate the military and veteran suicide problem.
(D)An analysis of the factors of alienation, strained relationships, finances, family disruptions, and career challenges associated with suicidal ideation and how to provide services to address those factors as experienced by military members, California National Guard members who live in geographically diverse areas that are far from military bases and mental health care facilities, and veterans.
(2)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(a)The department shall establish the Ending Military and Veteran Suicide Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention to systematically reduce, on an annual basis, military and veteran suicides and to provide a plan by June 1, 2024, for the elimination of all military and veteran suicides in the state by January 1, 2028. The task force shall recommend comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing suicide among military members and veterans in California and shall recommend ways to establish and execute plans and programs to implement those strategies.
(b)The task force shall consist of all of the following:
(1)Stakeholders from the Military Departments mental health, chaplaincy, and other programs tasked with morale and welfare.
(2)The Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide one representative.
(3)The department shall invite representatives from the United States Department of Defense and each of the armed services.
(4)The department shall invite other veterans service organizations, state and local mental health officials, and researchers with relevant subject matter expertise.
(c)The department shall support the task force and ensure the task force is able to carry out its duties. The department may use its existing resources to absorb the task forces costs in implementing this subdivision. The department may accept and expend funds from nongovernmental sources for its work with the task force.
(d)(1)The department shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, that includes all of the following:
(A)An analysis of the plans, activities, strategies, and programs undertaken pursuant to the task forces recommendations and their effects on reducing military and veteran suicides in the state. This part of the report shall include a specific set of near-, intermediate-, and long-term benchmarks that can be used to measure the states progress toward the goal of eliminating military and veteran suicides by January 1, 2028.
(B)A survey and analysis of existing programs currently available from federal, state, and local governmental and nongovernmental agencies that deal with suicide, military suicide, and veteran suicide.
(C)An analysis of the success achieved by each program that can lead to recommendations from the task force on how California can eliminate the military and veteran suicide problem.
(D)An analysis of the factors of alienation, strained relationships, finances, family disruptions, and career challenges associated with suicidal ideation and how to provide services to address those factors as experienced by military members, California National Guard members who live in geographically diverse areas that are far from military bases and mental health care facilities, and veterans.
(2)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1.Section 8594.15 is added to the Government Code, to read:8594.15.(a)For purposes of this section, Green Alert means a notification system, activated pursuant to subdivision (b), designed to issue and coordinate alerts with respect to a veteran who is at risk of suicide, and who is reported missing.(b)(1)If a person is reported missing to a law enforcement agency and that agency determines that the requirements of subdivision (c) are met, the agency may request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Green Alert. If the Department of the California Highway Patrol concurs that the requirements of subdivision (c) are met, it shall activate a Green Alert within the geographical area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency.(2)Radio, television, and cable and satellite systems are encouraged to, but not required to, cooperate with disseminating the information contained in a Green Alert.(3)Upon activation of a Green Alert, the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall assist the investigating law enforcement agency by issuing a be-on-the-lookout alert, an Emergency Digital Information Service message, an electronic flyer, or a changeable message sign in compliance with paragraph (4).(4)Upon activation of a Green Alert, the Department of the California Highway Patrol may use a changeable message sign if both of the following conditions are met:(A)A law enforcement agency determines that a vehicle may be involved in the missing person incident.(B)Specific vehicle identification is available for public dissemination.(c)A law enforcement agency may request a Green Alert be activated if that agency determines that all of the following conditions are met in regard to the investigation of the missing person:(1)The missing person is a veteran.(2)The investigating law enforcement agency has determined that the veteran is at risk of suicide.(3)The investigating law enforcement agency has utilized all available local resources.(4)The law enforcement agency determines that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.(5)The law enforcement agency believes that the person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, or environment or weather conditions, that the person is in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or that there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril.(6)There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person. REVISIONS: HeadingLine 3.(a)For purposes of this section, Green Alert means a notification system, activated pursuant to subdivision (b), designed to issue and coordinate alerts with respect to a veteran who is at risk of suicide, and who is reported missing.
(b)(1)If a person is reported missing to a law enforcement agency and that agency determines that the requirements of subdivision (c) are met, the agency may request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a Green Alert. If the Department of the California Highway Patrol concurs that the requirements of subdivision (c) are met, it shall activate a Green Alert within the geographical area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency.
(2)Radio, television, and cable and satellite systems are encouraged to, but not required to, cooperate with disseminating the information contained in a Green Alert.
(3)Upon activation of a Green Alert, the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall assist the investigating law enforcement agency by issuing a be-on-the-lookout alert, an Emergency Digital Information Service message, an electronic flyer, or a changeable message sign in compliance with paragraph (4).
(4)Upon activation of a Green Alert, the Department of the California Highway Patrol may use a changeable message sign if both of the following conditions are met:
(A)A law enforcement agency determines that a vehicle may be involved in the missing person incident.
(B)Specific vehicle identification is available for public dissemination.
(c)A law enforcement agency may request a Green Alert be activated if that agency determines that all of the following conditions are met in regard to the investigation of the missing person:
(1)The missing person is a veteran.
(2)The investigating law enforcement agency has determined that the veteran is at risk of suicide.
(3)The investigating law enforcement agency has utilized all available local resources.
(4)The law enforcement agency determines that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
(5)The law enforcement agency believes that the person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, or environment or weather conditions, that the person is in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or that there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril.
(6)There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
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Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2022 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Aug 31, 2022 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug 24, 2022 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 24, 2022 | Assembly Rule 77(a) suspended. |
| Aug 23, 2022 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 25 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77. |
| Aug 23, 2022 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 4984.). |
| Aug 22, 2022 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
| Aug 15, 2022 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 11, 2022 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 11). |
| Aug 2, 2022 | In committee: Referred to suspense file. |
| Jun 29, 2022 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 23, 2022 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A. |
| Jun 8, 2022 | Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and M. & V.A. |
| May 27, 2022 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 26, 2022 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.) |
| May 19, 2022 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (May 19). |
| May 19, 2022 | Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 4736.) |
| May 18, 2022 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Apr 27, 2022 | Coauthors revised. |
| Apr 6, 2022 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 5). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A. |
| Mar 22, 2022 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Mar 21, 2022 | Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and M. & V.A. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. |
| Mar 17, 2022 | Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Mar 16, 2022 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 24, 2022 | Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS. |
| Feb 15, 2022 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 17. |
| Feb 14, 2022 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
|
Description
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Location
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Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2022 | AB 2032 Eduardo Garcia Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 23, 2022 | Special Consent AB2032 | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 26, 2022 | AB 2032 Eduardo Garcia Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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Bill Co-Author(s):
