Senate Engrossed

veteran suicide prevention; pilot program

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SENATE BILL 1454

An Act

amending title 41, chapter 3, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-610.02; repealing section 41-610.02, Arizona Revised Statutes; appropriating monies; relating to the department of veterans' services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 3, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-610.02, to read:

START_STATUTE41-610.02. Veteran suicide prevention training pilot program; annual report

A. The veteran suicide prevention training pilot program is established in the department to offer claims examiners and county and municipal veteran service offices specialized training and certification in preventing veteran suicides.

B. The Department shall contract with an organization that has experience in developing and implementing veteran-relevant and evidence-based suicide prevention training to develop the training curriculum. The department shall establish and oversee the process for selecting program participants and certifying program participants who successfully complete veteran suicide prevention training.

C. The program shall train program participants to do the following:

1. Identify indicators of elevated suicide risk in veterans.

2. Provide emergency crisis referrals for veterans expressing or exhibiting symptoms of emotional or psychological distress.

D. The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

E. On or before July 30 each year, the department shall submit a report to the PRESIDENT of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives that includes information concerning the pilot program and whether any changes should be made to the pilot program to increase the program's effectiveness. In the department's final report, the department shall recommend whether the pilot program should be CONTINUED. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Delayed repeal

Section 41-610.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is repealed from and after December 31, 2027.

Sec. 3. Appropriation; department of veterans' services; exemption

A. The sum of $600,000 and one FTE position are appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of veterans' services for the purposes of section 41-610.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

B. The department may spend up to $100,000 of the monies appropriated in subsection A of this section to hire one program specialist and pay for other administrative costs, including marketing, associated with the veteran suicide prevention training pilot program established by section 41-610.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

C. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.