Requires the office of mental health to convene statewide forums and listening sessions in areas with high rates of death by suicide, suicide attempts, or other risk factors associated with suicide, and high risk minority groups or special populations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A988
SPONSOR: Davila TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
office of mental health to convene forums and listening sessions in
areas with high rates of death by suicide, suicide attempts, or other
risk factors associated with suicide, and high risk minority groups or
special populations
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the bill is to develop and implement suicide prevention
programs for certain high-risk or special populations.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill would amend § 7.07 of the mental hygiene law (MHL)adding a new
subdivision (i) and would read as follows:
- Require the office of mental health (OMH) to convene statewide forums
and listening sessions for the purpose of meeting its statutory respon-
sibilities and duties pursuant to subdivision (g) and (h) of § 7.07 of
the MHL.
-The forum and listening sessions must be conducted in areas of the
state which have high rates of death by suicide, suicide attempts, or
other risk factors associated with suicide, and high-risk minority
groups or special populations, including but not limited to Latina and
Latino adolescents, black youth, individuals residing in rural communi-
ties, veterans, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community, and any other group deemed high risk or underserved by the
office.
-OMH would be authorized to consult or work collaboratively with any
state agency, advocacy groups, or associations to promote or convene a
forum or listening session.
-OMH would be required to include its findings and any recommendations
resulting from a forum or listening session in its report required
pursuant to subdivision (g) of § 7.07 of the MHL.
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some groups
experience more negative conditions or factors related to suicide. While
anyone can experience suicide risk, some populations experience more
negative social conditions and other factors described above and have
higher rates of suicide or suicide attempts than the general U.S. popu-
lation. Examples of groups experiencing suicide health disparities
include veterans, people who live in rural areas, sexual and gender
minorities, and people of color.
This bill will help to reduce the risk factors related to death by
suicide for those populations identified as high-risk by requiring OMH
to conduct listening sessions and forums assist in the development and
implementation of suicide prevention programs and other initiatives.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A. 10202 of the 23-24 Legislative Session
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
988
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DAVILA, SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
office of mental health to convene forums and listening sessions in
areas with high rates of death by suicide, suicide attempts, or other
risk factors associated with suicide, and high risk minority groups or
special populations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision (i) to read as follows:
3 (i) The office of mental health shall convene statewide forums and
4 listening sessions for the purpose of meeting its statutory responsibil-
5 ities and duties pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h) of this section.
6 Such forums and listening sessions shall be conducted in areas of the
7 state which have high rates of death by suicide, suicide attempts, or
8 other risk factors associated with suicide, and high risk minority
9 groups or special populations, including but not limited to Latina and
10 Latino adolescents, black youth, individuals residing in rural communi-
11 ties, veterans, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
12 community, and any other group deemed high risk or underserved by the
13 office. The office may consult or work collaboratively with any state
14 agency, advocacy group, or association to promote or convene a forum or
15 listening session. The office shall include its findings and any recom-
16 mendations resulting from a forum or listening session in its report
17 required pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00290-01-5
