{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-40.312","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 40.312","heading":"Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide","body":"Prevention Program -- Mission and purpose -- Annual report -- Administrative\nregulations.\n(1) The Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide Prevention\nProgram is hereby created within the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs and\nshall be attached to the office of the commissioner for administrative purposes.\n(2) The Kentucky Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Suicide Prevention\nProgram shall opera te in collaboration with the Cabinet for Health and Family\nServices and in conjunction with additional community partnerships, as appropriate.\n(3) The mission of the program shall be to raise awareness of and reduce death by\nsuicide within the population o f service members, veterans, and their families. The\nprogram shall work to reduce barriers at the community and individual level that\nincrease the risk of suicide by increasing access to services and collaborating with a\nstatewide network of partners inclu ding state government agencies, community\npartners, nonprofit organizations, federal partners, and individuals directly impacted\nby risk of or loss from suicide.\n(4) The program shall connect service members, veterans, and their families, whose\nneed for services is based upon their risk of death by suicide or other circumstances\nas outlined by the program, with appropriate community and mental health\nresources. The program shall:\n(a) 1. Raise awareness of and access to behavioral health services and\nresources, promote evidence-based best practices and safe messaging to\nincrease awareness of veteran suicide prevention hotlines and other\ncrisis resources, and connect service members, veterans, and their\nfamilies to trained mental health providers and appropria te community\nresources; and\n2. Advocate for service members, veterans, and their families at risk for\nsuicide, and work to increase public awareness about the issue of suicide\namong veterans and its root causes;\n(b) Provide support and guidance to communit ies aiding in the development of\nstrategic planning designed to reduce suicide among service members,\nveterans, and their families, including the engagement and coordination of\nlocal leadership, faith -based entities, schools, chambers of commerce, public\nand private providers, grassroots coalitions, and additional stakeholders as\nidentified and appropriate. These efforts shall include but not be limited to the\npromotion of mental health awareness, the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline created\nin accordance with Pub. L. No. 116-172, the Green Alert under KRS 39F.180,\nand local resources available to assist in crisis intervention and ongoing\nsupports; and\n(c) Promote training opportunities and provide educational materials to\ndepartment and partnering agencies to increase the capacity to raise\nawareness, identify, and engage service members, veterans, and their families\nat risk of suicide.\n(5) The department sh all submit an annual written report to the Governor and the\nLegislative Research Commission by October 30 of each year. The report shall\ninclude efforts made, data -driven information, and legislative and budgetary\nbarriers. The report shall be available to the public on the department's website.\n(6) Notwithstanding any other statute to the contrary, nothing in this section shall\npermit any state agency to seize or advocate for the seizure of weapons.\n(7) The department shall promulgate administrative regula tions in accordance with\nKRS Chapter 13A as necessary to effectuate this section.","path":["KRS Chapter 40"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54929","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:49:00Z","sha256":"cef96b2ef0944301a1e7da5490e377889e19ef88d2b171dea225e5087c742ba1","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-40.310","next":"us-ky/krs-40.315"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}