STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8488
IN SENATE
February 5, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sens. FERNANDEZ, ADDABBO, MARTINEZ, RAMOS, WEBB -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to establish a Latina suicide prevention task force; and provides
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. Latina suicide prevention task force. (a) There is hereby
2 created the Latina suicide prevention task force to examine, evaluate
3 and determine how to improve mental health and suicide prevention for
4 Latina New York residents, consisting of seven members, each to serve
5 until two years after the effective date of this act.
6 (b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be
7 appointed by the governor; one member shall be appointed by the tempo-
8 rary president of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
9 minority leader of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
10 speaker of the assembly; one member shall be appointed by the minority
11 leader of the assembly; and two members shall be appointed by the
12 commissioner of mental health. Appointments shall be made within sixty
13 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the task force
14 shall be 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 suicide prevention services and support and
17 knowledge related to the Latina community. All appointments shall be
18 coordinated to ensure geographic 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 by a majority vote and other neces-
21 sary officers from among all appointed members.
22 (4) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
23 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
24 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
25 task force.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09580-01-3
S. 8488 2
1 (5) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
2 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
3 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
4 (c) The task force shall:
5 (1) study current mental health practices and suicide prevention
6 efforts;
7 (2) recommend mental health practices and suicide prevention efforts
8 to increase effectiveness across the state; and
9 (3) determine potential reasons for the high number of Latina
10 suicides.
11 (d) The task force may establish advisory committees as it deems
12 appropriate on matters relating to the task force's functions, powers
13 and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
14 may be composed of task force members as well as other individuals
15 selected by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific to
16 the charge of such committees.
17 (e) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
18 surveys, or analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
19 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
20 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities
21 shall provide information and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
22 assist the task force with its work; provided, however, any information
23 obtained pursuant to this subdivision shall be kept confidential and
24 shall only be used by members of the task force in the course of their
25 tasks and duties as a task force member.
26 (f) The task force shall provide a preliminary report to the governor
27 and the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and
28 activities already undertaken by the task force, not later than thirteen
29 months after the effective date of this act, and a final report of its
30 findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already undertaken
31 by the task force, not later than twenty-two months after the effective
32 date of this act and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals
33 as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
34 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
35 have become a law and shall expire 2 years after such effective date
36 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
