STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4467--B
Cal. No. 300
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 12, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sens. CARLUCCI, RIVERA, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO -- read twice
and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities -- reported favorably
from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a
third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly,
recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and
ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
-- repassed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote
reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered
reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to establish a Black youth suicide prevention task force; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Black youth suicide prevention task force. (a) There is
2 hereby created the Black youth suicide prevention task force to examine,
3 evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide
4 prevention for Black New York residents aged 5 though 18 years, consist-
5 ing of seven members, each to serve until two years after the effective
6 date of this act.
7 (b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be
8 appointed by the governor; one member shall be appointed by the tempo-
9 rary president of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
10 minority leader of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
11 speaker of the assembly; one member shall be appointed by the minority
12 leader of the assembly; and two members shall be appointed by the
13 commissioner of mental health. Appointments shall be made within sixty
14 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the task force
15 shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments.
16 (2) All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines
17 related to mental health suicide prevention services, supports and know-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10558-06-9
S. 4467--B 2
1 ledge related to the Black community. All appointments shall be coordi-
2 nated to ensure geographic representation from the entire state.
3 (3) The task force shall be chaired by the governor's appointee. The
4 task force shall elect a vice-chair by majority vote and other necessary
5 officers from among all appointed members.
6 (4) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
7 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
8 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
9 task force.
10 (5) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
11 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
12 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
13 (c) The task force shall:
14 (1) study current mental health practices and suicide prevention
15 efforts for Black youths aged 5 through 18 years;
16 (2) recommend mental health practices and suicide prevention efforts
17 for such age group to increase effectiveness across the state; and
18 (3) determine potential reasons for the high number of Black youth
19 suicides.
20 (d) The task force may establish advisory committees as it deems
21 appropriate on matters relating to the task force's functions, powers
22 and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
23 may be composed of task force members as well as other individuals
24 selected by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific to
25 the charge of such committees.
26 (e) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
27 surveys and analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
28 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
29 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities
30 shall provide information and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
31 assist the task force with its work; provided however, any information
32 or records otherwise confidential and privileged in accordance with
33 state or federal law that are provided to the task force pursuant to
34 this subdivision shall remain confidential as provided by such state or
35 federal law and provided, further, that reports of the task force shall
36 not identify the name or related identifying information concerning
37 individual persons who are deceased as a result of suicide.
38 (f) The task force shall provide a preliminary report to the governor
39 and the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and
40 activities already undertaken by the task force, not later than thirteen
41 months after the effective date of this act, and a final report of its
42 findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already undertaken
43 by the task force, not later than twenty-two months after the effective
44 date of this act and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals
45 as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
46 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
47 have become a law and shall expire 2 years after such effective date
48 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
