Barriers to Suicide Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.792 | Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. (D-VA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
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.

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).
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