HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3578        FILED ON: 1/15/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3827

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve An Act relative to the study on methods to reduce incidents of suicide..

Resolved, There is hereby established a special commission to investigate and study the problem of suicide across the lifespan, to consider innovative and coordinated measures to prevent and reduce the incidence of suicide through prevention and public health policy initiatives and strategies, and to identify strategies to support and implement a state plan to reduce the incidence of suicide and self harm.  The commission shall consist of 17 members, including: (i) the commissioner of public health who shall chair the commission, the commissioner of elder affairs, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of public safety, the commissioner of youth services, the attorney general, a member of the senate appointed by the senate president, the minority leader of the senate, 2 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, the minority leader of the house of representatives, or their designees; and (ii) the following persons appointed by the commissioner of public health: a suicide prevention professional, a member of the commission on gay and lesbian youth, a suicide prevention advocate, a suicide survivor, and a representative from the leadership of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.  The commission shall be covered under the auspices of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and the injury prevention and control program of the department of public health.  The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, together with recommendations and drafts of legislation necessary to carry out the recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate within 1 year of convening.