Section 557.1 - Suicide or overdose death review teams.(a) Establishment.--A county, or two or more counties, may establish a suicide death review team, an overdose death review team, or both, for the purposes of collecting and examining information and records concerning suicide or overdose fatalities in this Commonwealth to improve community resources and systems of care to reduce suicide or overdose fatalities. The following shall apply: (1) A county may establish an independent county death review team or jointly with other counties. If a joint county death review team is established, the multicounty team members shall execute a memorandum of understanding between participating counties regarding team membership, staffing and operations.(2) Upon the establishment of a death review team, the death review team shall notify the department of the establishment of the team.(3) A death review team shall be multidisciplinary and culturally diverse and include professionals and representatives from organizations that provide services or community resources for families in the community served by the death review team.(b) Membership.-- (1) In counties where there is a local health department, the local health department shall be the lead organization to oversee and coordinate the death review team in a form and manner as prescribed by the department. In counties choosing to establish a death review team, if there is not a local health department, an organization interested in being selected as the lead organization shall submit an application, in a form and manner as prescribed by the department, for review and approval. Prior to submitting an application, a county's commissioners shall approve the submission of an organization as a lead organization.(2) The lead organization shall select the membership of the death review team. The following shall apply: (i) Members of the overdose death review team shall be selected from any of the following categories: (A) A coroner or medical examiner.(C) A psychologist licensed under the act of March 23, 1972 ( P.L. 136, No.52), known as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act.(D) A physician licensed under the act of December 20, 1985 ( P.L. 457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, or a physician licensed under the act of October 5, 1978 ( P.L. 1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, who practices as a psychiatrist.(E) A local behavioral health representative.(F) An individual who is a member of the education community with experience regarding existing and potential overdose prevention efforts for students in primary and secondary schools.(G) An individual who is a member of the law enforcement community with experience regarding existing and potential overdose prevention efforts for individuals who are involved with the law enforcement system.(H) A representative of an organization that advocates for individuals with behavioral health issues and their family members.(I) A representative of an organization that advocates for individuals with substance use disorders and their family members.(J) A representative from a single county authority.(K) The county health officer, or the officer's designee, if applicable.(L) The director of the local office responsible for human services or the director's designee.(M) The local district attorney or the district attorney's designee.(ii) Members of the suicide death review team shall be selected from any of the following categories: (A) At least three mental health providers specializing in trauma, youth mental health, veteran and military mental health, or other relevant specialty.(B) A crisis counselor specializing in suicide prevention.(C) An advocate for the prevention of suicide fatalities.(D) A medical examiner or coroner responsible for recording fatalities.(E) A family medicine specialist or other relevant medical specialty.(F) An individual who is a member of the education community with experience regarding existing and potential suicide prevention efforts for students in primary and secondary schools.(G) An individual who is a member of the law enforcement community with experience regarding existing and potential suicide prevention efforts for individuals who are involved with the law enforcement system.(H) The county health officer or the officer's designee, if applicable.(I) The director of the local office responsible for human services or the director's designee.(3) In addition to the members selected under paragraph (2), the lead organization may select additional members for a death review team as deemed necessary by the lead organization to administer the death review team's duties under section 2129, including individuals with experience and knowledge in the following areas: (I) Physical health services.(VI) Behavioral health services.(VII) Juvenile delinquency.(VIII) Adult or juvenile probation.(IX) Drug and alcohol substance use disorder.(c) Chair, vacancies and meetings.--A death review team shall select a chair by a majority vote of a quorum of the death review team's members. A majority of a death review team's selected members shall constitute a quorum. The death review team shall meet at least quarterly to conduct business and review suicide deaths and overdose deaths. A vacancy on the death review team shall be filled in accordance with subsection (b). Added by P.L. TBD 2022 No. 101, § 3, eff. 12/3/2022.