Barriers to Suicide Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents on bridges, including suicide prevention nets and barriers.
DOT may award competitive grants to states and local governments to carry out the program.
The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study to identify the types of structures, other than bridges, that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping and the types of nets or barriers that are effective at reducing such suicides.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 792 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 792
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
to facilitate the installation, on bridges, of evidence-based suicide
deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2021
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Katko, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Mr. Raskin, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Cleaver, Mrs. Axne, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr.
Carson, Mr. Trone, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Harder of California, Ms.
Wild, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, and Mr.
Hastings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
to facilitate the installation, on bridges, of evidence-based suicide
deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Barriers to Suicide Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish
a program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'') to
facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents on
bridges, including suicide prevention nets and barriers.
(b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary
may make grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.
(c) Eligible Recipients.--The Secretary may make a grant under the
Program to a State or a political subdivision of a State.
(d) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an
entity described in subsection (c) shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such form, at such time, and containing such information
as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(e) Eligible Projects.--The Secretary may make a grant under the
Program only for a project that facilitates the installation on a
bridge of--
(1) a suicide prevention net;
(2) a suicide prevention barrier; or
(3) any other evidence-based suicide deterrent that is
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
(f) Priority.--In making a grant under the Program, the Secretary
shall give priority to a project located in an area with a high rate of
suicide or other priority characteristics, as determined by the
Secretary.
(g) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
assisted with a grant under the Program may not exceed 80 percent.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(2) Evidence-based suicide deterrent.--The term ``evidence-
based suicide deterrent'' means a suicide deterrent that
demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research
findings or positive evaluation that such deterrent is likely
to reduce or prevent suicide, and includes ongoing efforts to
examine the effects of such deterrent.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the Program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2020 through 2024.
SEC. 3. TITLE 23 AMENDMENTS.
(a) National Highway Performance Program.--Section 119(d)(2)(I) of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Highway
System.'' and adding ``Highway System, including installation of safety
barriers and nets on bridges of the National Highway System.''.
(b) Surface Transportation Block Grants.--Section 133(b)(4) of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking ``crossings.'' and
adding ``crossings and installation of safety barriers and nets on
bridges.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION NETS AND BARRIERS
FOR STRUCTURES OTHER THAN BRIDGES.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study to identify--
(1) the types of structures, other than bridges, that
attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-
jumping;
(2) the characteristics that distinguish structures
identified under paragraph (1) from similar structures that do
not attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-
jumping;
(3) the types of nets or barriers that are effective at
reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to the structures
identified under paragraph (1);
(4) methods of reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to
the structures identified under paragraph (1) other than nets
and barriers;
(5) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the nets
and barriers identified under paragraph (3);
(6) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the
additional methods identified under paragraph (4);
(7) the entities that typically install the nets and
barriers identified under paragraph (3); and
(8) the costs of the nets and barriers identified under
paragraph (3).
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
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