November 29, 2016, Introduced by Reps. Driskell, Rutledge, Lane, LaGrand, Sarah Roberts, Darany, Potvin, Santana, Kivela, Barrett and Chang and referred to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
A bill to create a veterans' suicide prevention task force
within the Michigan veterans affairs agency; and to prescribe
duties for certain state officials.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. No later than December 1, 2017, the Michigan veterans
affairs agency shall form a special internal task force
specifically named the Michigan veterans' suicide prevention task
force. The purposes of the task force are both of the following:
(a) Investigate the causes and prevention of suicides among
returning Michigan veterans of the United States military.
(b) Prepare and present a comprehensive public report of its
findings as provided in section 3.
Sec. 2. (1) The Michigan veterans' suicide prevention task
force created in section 1 shall consist of 8 members as follows:
(a) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
(b) One member appointed by the minority leader of the house
of representatives.
(c) One member appointed by the secretary of the senate.
(d) One member appointed by the senate minority leader.
(e) One member chosen by the director of the Michigan veterans
affairs agency who is a representative of that agency.
(f) One member chosen by the director of the department of
military and veterans affairs who is a representative from that
department.
(g) Two members chosen by the director of the department of
health and human services who are representatives from that
department.
(2) The member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives shall act as the chair of the Michigan veterans'
suicide prevention task force.
(3) The Michigan veterans' suicide prevention task force shall
meet periodically at the discretion of the chair to investigate and
form recommendations concerning the issue of suicides among
Michigan veterans.
(4) The members of the Michigan veterans' suicide prevention
task force shall serve without compensation.
(5) The Michigan veterans affairs agency shall provide
administrative and other support to the Michigan veterans' suicide
prevention task force.
Sec. 3. The Michigan veterans' suicide prevention task force
shall compile and present a comprehensive report of its findings,
including any recommendations for legislation, to the house of
representatives and the senate on or before December 1, 2018.
Sec. 4. The Michigan veterans' suicide prevention task force
shall be dissolved after presentation of its report as described in
section 3.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the
date it is enacted into law.