HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3742        FILED ON: 1/15/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 413

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to child suicide..

Resolved, SECTION 1.  Resolved, There is hereby established a special commission for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to child suicide. The eleven member commission shall consist of: the commissioner of education or his designee; the commissioner of mental health or his designee; 3 members who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including 1 member of the joint committee on education, and 1 member of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse; 3 members who shall be appointed by the president of the senate, including 1 member of the joint committee on education, and 1 member of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse; 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts association of school superintendents, 1 of whom shall be a member of the mental health advisory council established under section 11 chapter 19 of the General Laws, and 1 of whom shall be an advocate for pediatric early childhood mental health.

The commission shall investigate strategies for suicide prevention and the resources necessary to assist elementary and secondary schools identify and assist children at risk, and shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the joint committee on education, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, and the joint committee on children and families by July 1, 2010.