Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 390 First Substitute (2017GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Eliason, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates a Suicide Prevention Education Program to be created by the state suicide prevention coordinator and the Bureau of Criminal Identification;
• allows the program to provide grants to federal firearms licensees to educate their employees regarding suicide prevention; and
• makes technical corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SUICIDE PREVENTION MODIFICATIONS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor: 
Don L. Ipson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates a Suicide Prevention Education Program to be administered by the
Bureau of Criminal Identification.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates a Suicide Prevention Education Program to be created by the state suicide
prevention coordinator and the Bureau of Criminal Identification;
▸ allows the program to provide grants to federal firearms licensees to educate their
employees regarding suicide prevention; and
▸ makes technical corrections. 
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates:
▸ to the Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Criminal Identification, as an
ongoing appropriation:
• from the General Fund, $9,800, to the Firearm Safety Account; and
• from the Firearm Safety Account, $9,800, to the Bureau of Criminal
Identification.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-10-202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 144
53-10-202.1
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 226
62A-15-1101
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapters 144, 164, and 168
ENACTS:
53-10-202.3
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53-10-202
 is amended to read:
53-10-202.
Criminal identification -- Duties of bureau.
The bureau shall:
(1) procure and file information relating to identification and activities of persons who:
(a) are fugitives from justice;
(b) are wanted or missing;
(c) have been arrested for or convicted of a crime under the laws of any state or nation;
and
(d) are believed to be involved in racketeering, organized crime, or a dangerous
offense;
(2) establish a statewide uniform crime reporting system that shall include:
(a) statistics concerning general categories of criminal activities;
(b) statistics concerning crimes that exhibit evidence of prejudice based on race,
religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, or other categories that the division finds
appropriate; and
(c) other statistics as required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(3) make a complete and systematic record and index of the information obtained
under this part;
(4) subject to the restrictions in this part, establish policy concerning the use and
dissemination of data obtained under this part;
(5) publish an annual report concerning the extent, fluctuation, distribution, and nature
of crime in Utah;
(6) establish a statewide central register for the identification and location of missing
persons, which may include:
(a) identifying data including fingerprints of each missing person;
(b) identifying data of any missing person who is reported as missing to a law
enforcement agency having jurisdiction;
(c) dates and circumstances of any persons requesting or receiving information from
the register; and
(d) any other information, including blood types and photographs found necessary in
furthering the purposes of this part;
(7) publish a quarterly directory of missing persons for distribution to persons or
entities likely to be instrumental in the identification and location of missing persons;
(8) list the name of every missing person with the appropriate nationally maintained
missing persons lists;
(9) establish and operate a 24-hour communication network for reports of missing
persons and reports of sightings of missing persons;
(10) coordinate with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other
agencies to facilitate the identification and location of missing persons and the identification of
unidentified persons and bodies;
(11) receive information regarding missing persons, as provided in Sections 
26-2-27
and 
53A-11-502
, and stolen vehicles, vessels, and outboard motors, as provided in Section
41-1a-1401
;
(12) adopt systems of identification, including the fingerprint system, to be used by the
division to facilitate law enforcement;
(13) assign a distinguishing number or mark of identification to any pistol or revolver,
as provided in Section 
76-10-520
;
(14) check certain criminal records databases for information regarding motor vehicle
salesperson applicants, maintain a separate file of fingerprints for motor vehicle salespersons,
and inform the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division when new entries are made for certain
criminal offenses for motor vehicle salespersons in accordance with the requirements of
Section 
41-3-205.5
;
(15) check certain criminal records databases for information regarding driving
privilege card applicants or cardholders and maintain a separate file of fingerprints for driving
privilege applicants and cardholders and inform the federal Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security when new entries
are made in accordance with the requirements of Section 
53-3-205.5
.
(16) review and approve or disapprove applications for license renewal that meet the
requirements for renewal;
(17) forward to the board those applications for renewal under Subsection (16) that do
not meet the requirements for renewal; and
(18) within funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose, implement and
manage the operation of [
a
] firearm safety [
program
] 
and suicide prevention education
programs
, in conjunction with the state suicide prevention coordinator, as described in this
section and Section 
62A-15-1101
, including:
(a) coordinating with the Department of Health, local mental health and substance
abuse authorities, [
the public education suicide prevention coordinator
] 
a nonprofit behavioral
health advocacy group
, and a representative from a Utah-based nonprofit organization with
expertise in the field of firearm use and safety that represents firearm owners, to:
(i) produce a firearm safety brochure with information about the safe handling and use
of firearms that includes:
(A) rules for safe handling, storage, and use of firearms in a home environment;
(B) information about at-risk individuals and individuals who are legally prohibited
from possessing firearms;
(C) information about suicide prevention and awareness; and
(D) information about the availability of firearm safety packets;
(ii) procure cable-style gun locks for distribution pursuant to this section; [
and
]
(iii) produce a firearm safety packet that includes both the firearm safety brochure
described in Subsection (18)(a)(i) and the cable-style gun lock described in Subsection
(18)(a)(ii); 
and
(iv) create a suicide prevention education course that:
(A) provides information that includes posters for display and pamphlets or brochures
for distribution regarding firearm safety education;
(B) incorporates current information on how to recognize suicidal behaviors and
identify persons who may be suicidal;
(C) provides information regarding crisis intervention resources; and
(D) provides continuing education in the area of suicide prevention;
(b) distributing, free of charge, the firearm safety packet to the following persons, who
shall make the firearm safety packet available free of charge:
(i) health care providers, including emergency rooms;
(ii) mental health practitioners;
(iii) other public health suicide prevention organizations;
(iv) entities that teach firearm safety courses; and
(v) school districts for use in the seminar, described in Section 
53A-15-1302
, for
parents of students in the school district;
(c) creating and administering a redeemable coupon program described in this section
and Section 
76-10-526
, that may include:
(i) producing a redeemable coupon that offers between $10 and $200 off the purchase
of a gun safe from a participating federally licensed firearms dealer, as defined in Section
76-10-501
, by a Utah resident who has filed an application for a concealed firearm permit;
(ii) advertising the redeemable coupon program to all federally licensed firearms
dealers and maintaining a list of dealers who wish to participate in the program;
(iii) printing or writing the name of a Utah resident who has filed an application for a
concealed firearm permit on the redeemable coupon;
(iv) mailing the redeemable coupon and the firearm safety brochure to Utah residents
who have filed an application for a concealed firearm permit; and
(v) collecting from the participating dealers receipts described in Section 
76-10-526
and reimbursing the dealers;
(d) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
making rules that establish procedures for:
(i) producing and distributing the firearm safety brochures and packets;
(ii) procuring the cable-style gun locks for distribution; and
(iii) administering the redeemable coupon program; and
(e) reporting to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee
regarding implementation and success of the firearm safety program:
(i) during the 2016 interim, before November 1; and
(ii) during the 2018 interim, before June 1.
Section 2. Section 
53-10-202.1
 is amended to read:
53-10-202.1.
Firearm Safety Account.
(1) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the
"Firearm Safety Account."
(2) The account shall be funded by appropriations from the Legislature.
(3) Funds in the account may only be used for the [
Firearm Safety Program
] 
programs
established in Subsection 
53-10-202
(18).
Section 3. Section 
53-10-202.3
 is enacted to read:
 53-10-202.3.
Suicide Prevention Education Program -- Definitions -- Grant
requirements.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Criminal Identification created in Section 
53-10-201
within the Department of Public Safety.
(b) "Coordinator" means the state suicide prevention coordinator designated in Section
62A-15-1101
.
(c) "Course" means the suicide prevention education course created in Subsection
53-10-202
(18)(a)(iv).
(2) There is created a Suicide Prevention Education Program to fund suicide
prevention education opportunities for federally licensed firearms dealers who operate a retail
establishment open to the public and the dealers' employees.
(3) The bureau shall provide a grant to an employer in Subsection (2) following the
criteria provided in accordance with Subsection 
62A-15-1101
(8)(b).
(4) An employer may apply for a grant of up to $2,500 under the program.
Section 4. Section 
62A-15-1101
 is amended to read:
62A-15-1101.
Suicide prevention -- Reporting requirements.
(1) As used in the section:
(a) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Criminal Identification created in Section 
53-10-201
within the Department of Public Safety.
(b) "Division" means the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
(c) "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a person from attempting suicide.
(d) "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to
prevent or contain contagion.
(e) "State suicide prevention coordinator" means an individual designated by the
division as described in Subsections (2) and (3).
(2) The division shall appoint a state suicide prevention coordinator to administer a
state suicide prevention program composed of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
programs, services, and efforts.
(3) The state suicide prevention program may include the following components:
(a) delivery of resources, tools, and training to community-based coalitions;
(b) evidence-based suicide risk assessment tools and training;
(c) town hall meetings for building community-based suicide prevention strategies;
(d) suicide prevention gatekeeper training;
(e) training to identify warning signs and to manage an at-risk individual's crisis;
(f) evidence-based intervention training;
(g) intervention skills training; and
(h) postvention training.
(4) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall coordinate with the following to
gather statistics, among other duties:
(a) local mental health and substance abuse authorities;
(b) the State Board of Education, including the public education suicide prevention
coordinator described in Section 
53A-15-1301
;
(c) the Department of Health;
(d) health care providers, including emergency rooms;
(e) federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(f) other unbiased sources; and
(g) other public health suicide prevention efforts.
(5) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall provide a written report to the Health
and Human Services Interim Committee, by the October meeting every year, on:
(a) implementation of the state suicide prevention program, as described in Subsections
(2) and (3);
(b) data measuring the effectiveness of each component of the state suicide prevention
program;
(c) funds appropriated for each component of the state suicide prevention program; and
(d) five-year trends of suicides in Utah, including subgroups of youths and adults and
other subgroups identified by the state suicide prevention coordinator.
(6) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall report to the Legislature's:
(a) Education Interim Committee, by the October 2015 meeting, jointly with the State
Board of Education, on the coordination of suicide prevention programs and efforts with the
State Board of Education and the public education suicide prevention coordinator as described
in Section 
53A-15-1301
; and
(b) Health and Human Services Interim Committee, by the October 2017 meeting,
statistics on the number of annual suicides in Utah, including how many suicides were
committed with a gun, and if so:
(i) where the victim procured the gun and if the gun was legally possessed by the
victim;
(ii) if the victim purchased the gun legally and whether a background check was
performed before the victim purchased the gun;
(iii) whether the victim had a history of mental illness or was under the treatment of a
mental health professional;
(iv) whether any medication or illegal drugs or alcohol were also involved in the
suicide; and
(v) if the suicide incident also involved the injury or death of another individual,
whether the shooter had a history of domestic violence.
(7) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall consult with the bureau to implement
and manage the operation of a firearm safety program, as described in Subsection
53-10-202
(18) [
and
]
,
 Section 
53-10-202.1
,
 and the Suicide Prevention Education Program
described in Section 
53-10-202.3
.
(8) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
division shall make rules
:
(a)
 governing the implementation of the state suicide prevention program, consistent
with this section[
.
]
; and
(b) in conjunction with the bureau, defining the criteria for employers to apply for
grants under the Suicide Prevention Education Program in Section 
53-10-202.3
, which shall
include:
(i) attendance at a suicide prevention education course; and
(ii) display of posters and distribution of the firearm safety brochures or packets
created in Subsection 
53-10-202
(18)(a)(iii), but does not require the distribution of a
cable-style gun lock with a firearm if the firearm already has a trigger lock or comparable
safety mechanism.
Section 5. 
Appropriation.
(1) Restricted Fund and Account Transfers. The Legislature authorizes the State
Division of Finance to transfer the following amounts among the following funds or accounts
as indicated. Expenditures and outlays from the recipient funds must be authorized elsewhere
in an appropriations act.
ITEM 1 To General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account
From General Fund
$9,800
Schedule of Programs:
General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account $9,800
(2) Operating and Capital Budgets. The following sums of money are appropriated for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018. These are additions to
amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2018. Under the terms and conditions of Title
63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of
money from the funds or accounts indicated for the use and support of the government of the
state of Utah.
ITEM 2 To Bureau of Criminal Identification - Department of Public Safety
From General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account
$9,800
Schedule of Programs:
CITS Bureau of Criminal Identification
$9,800