Establishes an LGBT youth and young adult suicide prevention task force; provides for the number of members, manner of appointment and the topics to be reviewed.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8306
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 13, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT to establish an LGBT youth and young adult suicide prevention
task force; and provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
ration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. LGBT youth and young adult suicide prevention task force.
2 (a) There is hereby created the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
3 (LGBT) youth and young adult suicide prevention task force to examine,
4 evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide
5 prevention for New York's LGBT youth and young adults up to age 24,
6 consisting of seven members, each to serve until two years after the
7 effective date of this act.
8 (b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be
9 appointed by the governor; two members shall be appointed by the tempo-
10 rary president of the senate; two members shall be appointed by the
11 speaker of the assembly; and two members shall be appointed by the
12 commissioner of health. Appointments shall be made within sixty days of
13 the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the task force shall be
14 filled in the same manner provided for original appointments.
15 (2) All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines
16 related to mental health and knowledge related to LGBT youth and young
17 adults. All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic
18 representation from the entire state.
19 (3) The task force shall be chaired by the governor's appointee. The
20 task force shall elect a vice-chair and other necessary officers from
21 among all appointed members.
22 (4) A majority of the members of the task force in office shall
23 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of
24 any power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11827-02-9
A. 8306 2
1 sion of the majority of the members present during the presence of a
2 quorum shall be held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
3 task force.
4 (5) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
5 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
6 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
7 task force.
8 (6) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
9 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
10 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
11 (c) The task force shall:
12 (1) study current mental health practices and suicide prevention
13 efforts;
14 (2) recommend mental health practices and suicide prevention efforts
15 to increase effectiveness across the state; and
16 (3) determine potential reasons for the high number of LGBT youth and
17 young adult suicides.
18 (d) The task force may establish such advisory committees as it deems
19 appropriate on matters relating to the task force's functions, powers
20 and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
21 may be composed of task force members as well as other individuals
22 selected by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific to
23 the charge of such committees.
24 (e) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
25 surveys, or analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
26 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
27 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities
28 shall provide information and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
29 assist the task force with its work.
30 (f) The task force shall submit a request for any appropriation as
31 shall be necessary to enable the task force to perform its functions and
32 duties to the governor, director of the division of budget, and chair-
33 persons of the senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means
34 committee.
35 (g) The task force may hold public hearings, take testimony and make
36 investigations at such places as it deems necessary.
37 (h) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
38 the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
39 ities already undertaken by the task force, not later than thirteen
40 months after the effective date of this act, and a final report of its
41 findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already undertaken
42 by the task force, not later than twenty-two months after the effective
43 date of this act and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals
44 as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
45 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
46 have become a law and shall expire 2 years after such effective date
47 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.