BILL AS INTRODUCED S.69
2021 Page 1 of 2
1 S.69
2 Introduced by Senators Benning, Chittenden, Clarkson, Collamore,
3 Cummings, Hooker, Parent, Pollina and Terenzini
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Health; mental health; suicide prevention
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to appropriate
8 funding for suicide prevention initiatives, including Vermont’s National
9 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Zero Suicide, the Elder Care Clinician Program,
10 and the Vet to Vet Visitor Program.
11 An act relating to suicide prevention initiatives
12 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
13 Sec. 1. VERMONT’S NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
14 In fiscal year 2022, the General Assembly shall appropriate $125,000.00
15 from the General Fund to the Department of Mental Health for the purpose of
16 increasing to 70 percent the in-state call response at Vermont’s local crisis call
17 centers.
18 Sec. 2. ZERO SUICIDE PROGRAM
19 In fiscal year 2022, the General Assembly shall appropriate $400,000.00
20 from the General Fund to the Department of Mental Health for the purpose of:
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 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.69
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1 (1) expanding the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center’s Zero Suicide
2 Program throughout the State; and
3 (2) establishing a new full-time position that shall be shared by the
4 Departments of Health and of Mental Health to coordinate statewide suicide
5 prevention efforts in coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans
6 Affairs.
7 Sec. 3. SUPPORTS FOR OLDER VERMONTERS AND VETERANS
8 In fiscal year 2022, the General Assembly shall appropriate $50,000.00
9 from the General Fund to the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and
10 Independent Living for the purpose of expanding the Elder Care Clinician
11 Program or the Vet to Vet Visitor Program, or both.
12 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
13 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.
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