NRS439.5106. Powers and duties.

      1.  The Committee:

      (a) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, shall adopt a written protocol setting forth the suicide fatalities in this State which must be reported to the Committee and screened for review by the Committee and the suicide fatalities in this State which the Committee may reject for review. The Committee shall not review any case in which litigation is pending.

      (b) May review any accidental death which the Committee determines may assist in suicide prevention efforts in this State.

      (c) May establish differing levels of review, including, without limitation, a comprehensive or limited review depending upon the nature of the incident or the purpose of the review.

      2.  The Committee shall obtain and use any data or other information to:

      (a) Review suicide fatalities in this State to determine trends, risk factors and strategies for prevention;

      (b) Determine and prepare reports concerning trends and patterns of suicide fatalities in this State;

      (c) Identify and evaluate the prevalence of risk factors for preventable suicide fatalities in this State;

      (d) Evaluate and prepare reports concerning high-risk factors, current practices, lapses in systematic responses and barriers to the safety and well-being of persons who are at risk of suicide in this State; and

      (e) Recommend any improvement in sources of information relating to investigating reported suicide fatalities and preventing suicide in this State.

      3.  In conducting a review of a suicide fatality in this State, the Committee shall, to the greatest extent practicable, consult and cooperate with:

      (a) The Coordinator of the Statewide Program for Suicide Prevention employed pursuant to NRS 439.511;

      (b) Each trainer for suicide prevention employed pursuant to NRS 439.513; and

      (c) A multidisciplinary team:

             (1) To review the death of the victim of a crime that constitutes domestic violence organized or sponsored pursuant to NRS 217.475 or 228.495;

             (2) To review the death of a child organized pursuant to NRS 432B.405; and

             (3) To oversee the review of the death of a child organized pursuant to NRS 432B.4075.

      4.  Any review conducted by the Committee pursuant to NRS 439.5102 to 439.5108, inclusive, is separate from, independent of and in addition to any investigation or review which is required or authorized by law to be conducted, including, without limitation, any investigation conducted by a coroner or coroner’s deputy pursuant to NRS 259.050.

      5.  To conduct a review pursuant to NRS 439.5102 to 439.5108, inclusive, the Committee may access information, including, without limitation:

      (a) Any investigative information obtained by a law enforcement agency relating to a death;

      (b) Any records from an autopsy or an investigation conducted by a coroner or coroner’s deputy relating to a death;

      (c) Any medical or mental health records of a decedent;

      (d) Any records relating to social or rehabilitative services provided to a decedent; and

      (e) Any records of a social services agency which has provided services to a decedent.

      (Added to NRS by 2013, 364)