(a) The State Department of Health Care Services, contingent upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, may establish and implement a suicide prevention, education, and gatekeeper training program to reduce the severity, duration, and incidence of suicidal behaviors.
(b) In developing and implementing the components of this program, the department shall build upon the existing network of nonprofit suicide prevention programs in the state, and shall utilize the expertise of existing suicide prevention programs that meet any of the following criteria:
(1) Have been identified by a county as providing suicide prevention services for that county.
(2) Are certified by the American Association of Suicidology.
(3) Meet criteria for suicide prevention programs that may be established by the department.
(c) The program established by this section shall be consistent with the public health model proposed by the Surgeon General of the United States, and the system of care approach pursuant to the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 5600) of Division 5).
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 71. (SB 1009) Effective June 27, 2012.)