1. (1) With funds appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose, the department shall provide compensation, at a standard rate determined by the department, to a family outreach specialist.

2. (2) The family outreach specialist shall:

   1. (a) engage with relatives or the legal guardian of an individual who has recently died by suicide or overdose to better understand the circumstances that precede a suicide or drug-related death, including by:

      1. (i) contacting next of kin;
      2. (ii) collecting information in an interview;
      3. (iii) assessing next of kin; and
      4. (iv) providing targeted bereavement care; and

   2. (b) assist the medical examiner with suicide intervention, prevention, and postvention, including:

      1. (i) mortality surveillance;
      2. (ii) research coordination;
      3. (iii) data management and analysis; and
      4. (iv) epidemiological surveillance.

Enacted by Chapter 396, 2026 General Session