FRESNO (KMJ) — An effort to reduce the number of former service members taking their own lives every year will soon be underway in California, after bipartisan legislation from two Central Valley State Assemblymen is signed by Governor Jerry Brown.
AB242 will make California one of 22 states to accurately report veteran suicide rates by requiring the person filling out a death certificate to include whether the deceased was ever in the Armed Forces of the United States.
The legislation was given public support from a number of veterans groups when it was officially unveiled in March (click here to read more). National statistics show 22 veterans take their own lives every day, but that figure does not include California.
“Men and women returning home to California after serving their country deserve all the help we can give them,” says Assemblyman Jim Patterson.
“Not knowing how many of those heroes are making the decision to end their lives is not acceptable.”
Patterson is one of the two who introduced the legislation – the other is Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula.
“As a physician, I know accurate data will help us better understand the full scope of the problem of veteran suicides in California,” says Arambula.
“I believe this information will reinforce the fact that we need to provide better support to our former military service members.”
The new law is due to come into effect January 2019.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
