36-199. Suicide mortality review team; members; duties

A. The suicide mortality review team is established in the department of health services.  The head of each of the following entities or that person's designee shall serve on the review team:

1. The department of health services.

2. The Arizona health care cost containment system.

3. The department of economic security.

4. The governor's office of youth, faith and family.

5. The department of education.

6. The Arizona council of human service providers.

7. The department of public safety.

B. The director of the department of health services shall appoint the following members to serve on the review team:

1. A medical examiner who is a rural forensic pathologist.

2. A medical examiner who is a metropolitan forensic pathologist.

3. A representative of a tribal government.

4. A representative of a health care insurer.

5. A public member.

6. A representative of an emergency management system provider.

7. A health care professional from a statewide association representing pediatricians.

8. A health care professional from a statewide association representing physicians.

9. A health care professional from a statewide association representing nurses.

10. A representative of an association of county health officers.

11. A representative of an association representing hospitals.

12. A professional who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health problems.

13. A county sheriff, or the sheriff's designee, who represents a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons and a county sheriff, or the sheriff's designee, who represents a county with a population of at least five hundred thousand persons.

14. A representative of a veterans organization or military family advocacy program.

15. A representative of a statewide association representing area agencies on aging.

16. A representative of a nonprofit community-based organization providing suicide prevention services.

17. A representative of a rural health organization.

C. The review team shall:

1. Develop a suicide mortalities data collection system.

2. Conduct an annual analysis on the incidences and causes of suicides in this state during the preceding fiscal year.

3. Encourage and assist in the development of local suicide mortality review teams.

4. Develop standards and protocols for local suicide mortality review teams and provide training and technical assistance to these teams.

5. Develop protocols for suicide investigations, including protocols for law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, medical examiners, health care facilities and social service agencies.

6. Study the adequacy of statutes, ordinances, rules, training and services to determine what changes are needed to decrease the incidence of preventable suicides and, as appropriate, take steps to implement these changes.

7. Educate the public regarding the incidences and causes of suicide as well as the public's role in preventing these deaths.

8. Designate a member of the review team to serve as chairperson.

D. Review team members are not eligible to receive compensation, but members appointed pursuant to subsection B of this section are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

E. The department of health services shall provide professional and administrative support to the team.