1 HJR28
2 209550-2
3 By Representatives Rafferty and Oliver
4 RFD: Rules
5 First Read: 04-FEB-21
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1
2 ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution,
3 EXTENDING THE ALABAMA TASK FORCE ON VETERANS'
4 SUICIDE AND ALIGNING ITS EFFORTS WITH THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR'S
5 CHALLENGE TO PREVENT SUICIDE AMONG SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS,
6 AND THEIR FAMILIES.
7
8 WHEREAS, the Alabama Task Force on Veterans' Suicide
9 was created by the Legislature during the 2019 Regular Session
10 (Act 2019-144), to investigate causes of and prevention of
11 suicides among returning Alabama veterans of the United States
12 Military, and to make recommendations to the Legislature to
13 address this important issue; and
14 WHEREAS, in 2020, Alabama was invited to participate
15 in the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service
16 Members, Veterans, and Their Families, a program sponsored by
17 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the
18 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
19 this initiative and the Alabama Task Force on Veterans'
20 Suicide share the same intent, process, leadership, and team
21 composition and are highly complementary of one another; and
22 WHEREAS, the Alabama Task Force on Veterans' Suicide
23 submitted a report to the Legislature on October 6, 2020, and
24 concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic has unequivocally impeded
25 its efforts to accomplish the goals of the task force, thus
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1 necessitating an extension of the task force; the report also
2 requested alignment of the efforts of the task force to that
3 of the Governor's Challenge to the extent possible, including
4 leadership alignment and integration of team members of each;
5 now therefore,
6 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
7 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the Alabama Task Force On
8 Veterans' Suicide, created in Act 2019-144 is extended through
9 the last legislative day of the 2022 Regular Session to
10 continue its investigation of the causes of and prevention of
11 suicides among returning Alabama veterans of the United States
12 Military and to make recommendations to the Legislature to
13 address this important issue.
14 (a)(1) The task force shall align its efforts, as
15 described in Act 2019-144, and collaborate with the chair and
16 members of the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among
17 Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families to formulate
18 recommendations relating to the development and implementation
19 of statewide suicide prevention best practices, using a public
20 health approach, including the development of recommendations
21 related to all of the following:
22 a. Identifying areas of need and screening veterans.
23 b. Promoting connections and improving care
24 transitions among target veterans.
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1 c. Educating providers and others regarding lethal
2 means safety and safety planning.
3 (2) Members of the Governor's Challenge to Prevent
4 Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families
5 may participate in activities, meetings, and outreach efforts
6 of the task force.
7 (3) The task force shall coordinate its community
8 outreach efforts with the Governor's Challenge, including
9 in-person or virtual "town hall" meetings in various locations
10 throughout the state.
11 (b) The Alabama Task Force on Veterans' Suicide, in
12 collaboration with the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide
13 among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families, shall
14 present a report of its findings, which shall include its
15 recommendations for legislation, if any, to the Legislature on
16 or before the final legislative day of the 2022 Regular
17 Session, at which time it shall stand dissolved.
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2
3
4 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
7 House of Representatives
8 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
9 and was adopted by the House 11-FEB-21.
10
11 Jeff Woodard
12 Clerk
13
14
15
16 Senate 09-MAR-21 Adopted
17
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