93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB7027

 

Introduced 02/09/04, by Sandra M. Pihos - Sidney H. Mathias - Patricia R. Bellock - Patricia Reid Lindner, Jim Sacia

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 1305/10-50 new

    Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services must implement a statewide program for suicide prevention. Sets forth the duties of the program. Requires the Department, no later than January 1, 2005, to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the status of the program. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB7027 LRB093 19956 BDD 45700 b

1     AN ACT concerning suicide prevention.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended
5 by adding Section 10-50 as follows:
 
6     (20 ILCS 1305/10-50 new)
7     Sec. 10-50. Suicide prevention program.
8     (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department must
9 establish and implement a statewide program for suicide
10 prevention, the purpose of which is to:
11         (1) create public awareness for issues relating to
12     suicide prevention;
13         (2) build community networks concerning suicide
14     prevention; and
15         (3) carry out training programs for suicide prevention
16     for law enforcement personnel, providers of health care,
17     school employees, and other persons who have contact with
18     individuals at risk of suicide.
19     (b) The Secretary must employ a coordinator of the program,
20     who must possess a background in the area of suicide
21     prevention. The Department shall establish further
22     qualifications for this position by rule. The coordinator must,
23     without limitation, oversee the program's performance of all of
24     the following duties:
25         (1) Providing educational activities to the general
26     public relating to suicide prevention.
27         (2) Providing training to persons who, as part of their
28     usual routine, have fact-to-face contact with persons who
29     may be at risk of suicide, including training to recognize
30     persons at risk of suicide and providing information on how
31     to refer those persons for treatment or service supports.
32         (3) Developing and carrying out, in each county, public

 

 

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1     awareness and media campaigns targeting groups of persons
2     who are at risk of suicide.
3         (4) Enhancing crisis services relating to suicide
4     prevention.
5         (5) Linking persons trained in the assessment of and
6     intervention in suicide with schools, public community
7     centers, nursing homes, and other facilities serving
8     persons most at risk of suicide.
9         (6) Coordinating the establishment of local advisory
10     groups in each county to support the efforts of the
11     statewide program.
12         (7) Working with groups advocating suicide prevention,
13     such as community coalitions, managers of existing crisis
14     hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified, and
15     mental health providers to address the barriers
16     interfering with providing services to groups of persons
17     who are at risk of suicide.
18         (8) Developing and maintaining an Internet or network
19     site with links to appropriate resource documents, suicide
20     hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified,
21     licensed professional personnel, state and local mental
22     health agencies, and appropriate national organizations.
23         (9) Reviewing current research on data collection for
24     factors related to suicide and developing recommendations
25     for improved systems of surveillance and uniform
26     collection of data.
27         (10) Developing and submitting proposals for funding
28     from federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
29     (c) No later than January 1, 2005, the Department must
30     submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly
31     concerning the status of the program.
 
32     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
33 becoming law.