The suicide and addiction crisis among American Indians and Alaska Natives in this state will be addressed. Indian health care providers must be available for the delivery of behavioral health services.
Crisis coordination between the state behavioral health system and tribes and Indian health care providers must be improved. The sovereign authority of tribal governments to act as public health authorities must be recognized. A definition of historical trauma is added.
Another component of the bill, recognize “the sovereign authority of tribal governments to act as public health authorities in providing for the health and safety of their community members including those individuals who may be experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”