Legislation Details

File #: 26-0310    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Policy Status: Passed
File created: 12/23/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 1/8/2026 Final action: 1/8/2026
Title: Request that Commissioners Court establish a Suicide Mortality Review Committee (SMRC) to review adult suicides in Harris County and to provide actionable recommendations to prevent further suicides, and that the Court designate the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition as the agency to oversee the activities of the SMRC IAW Title 8, Chapter 672 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Attachments: 1. 26-0310 SMRC.pdf

Primary Department: Veterans Services

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Dave Lewis

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Policy

 

Project ID (if applicable):  N/A

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Health and Safety Code 89th Legislature Amendment

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):  N/A

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request that Commissioners Court establish a Suicide Mortality Review Committee (SMRC) to review adult suicides in Harris County and to provide actionable recommendations to prevent further suicides, and that the Court designate the Houston Area Suicide Prevention Coalition as the agency to oversee the activities of the SMRC IAW Title 8, Chapter 672 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

For the establishment of a multidisciplinary and multiagency, unexpected fatality review team for a Texas county to decrease the incidence of unexpected deaths due to suicide, family violence or abuse.

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Impact:

The reduction of preventable deaths across Harris and surrounding counties.

 

 

 

 

Alternative Options: Harris County will see an increase in the rate of unexpected deaths due to suicide, family violence or abuse.

 

 

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.

County Strategic Plan Objective: O: Increase access to quality health care, including preventive and behavioral health.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):   Choose an item.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): N1: Improve coordination of public health efforts and campaign delivery among local health agencies and nonprofits.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

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Location:

Address (if applicable): 2100 Travis Street, Suite 210, Houston, TX 77002

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 1/8/2026

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/8/2026

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department:                      Dave Lewis, Director, Veteran Services Department

 

Attachments (if applicable): 1) RCA Template VSD SMRC 2) Texas Health and Safety Code Title 8. Subtitle A. Chapter 672