(a) There is established a Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board, within the Department of Children and Families, which shall be a coordinating source for suicide prevention across a person’s lifespan, including, but not limited to, youth suicide prevention. The board may include (1) representatives from suicide prevention foundations, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement agencies, religious or fraternal organizations, civic or volunteer groups, state and local government agencies, tribal governments or organizations, health care providers or local organizations with expertise in the mental health of children or adults or mental health issues with a focus on suicide prevention, (2) one psychiatrist licensed to practice medicine in this state, (3) one psychologist licensed in this state, (4) one representative of a local or regional board of education, (5) one high school teacher, (6) one high school student, (7) one college or university faculty member, (8) one college or university student, (9) one parent, and (10) a person who has experienced suicide ideation or loss, all appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families. The board shall include one representative of the Department of Public Health appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, one representative of the state Department of Education appointed by the Commissioner of Education and one representative of the Board of Regents for Higher Education appointed by the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The Commissioners of Children and Families and Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioners’ designees, shall serve as cochairpersons of the board and may appoint a representative of a local organization with expertise in mental health or a suicide prevention foundation to serve as a third cochairperson of the board. The board may adopt bylaws to govern it and its meetings.

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(b) The board shall: (1) Increase public awareness of the existence of suicide and means of suicide prevention across a person’s lifespan; (2) make recommendations to the Commissioners of Children and Families and Mental Health and Addiction Services for the development of state-wide training in the prevention of suicide; (3) develop a state-wide strategic suicide prevention plan; (4) recommend interagency policies and procedures for the coordination of services in the area of suicide prevention, intervention and response; (5) make recommendations for the establishment and implementation of suicide prevention, intervention and response procedures in schools and communities; (6) establish a coordinated system for the utilization of data for the prevention of suicide; (7) make recommendations concerning the integration of suicide prevention and intervention strategies into youth-focused prevention and intervention programs; and (8) periodically offer, within available appropriations, suicide prevention training and education for health care and behavioral health care providers, school employees, faculty members of institutions of higher education and other persons who provide services to children, adults and families.