NY State Senate Bill 2009-S734

Senate Bill S734

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Requires the installation of suicide prevention phones on all bridges controlled and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2010	referred to transportation
Jan 14, 2009	referred to transportation

2009-S734 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7274
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §1277-b, Pub Auth L

2009-S734 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the installation of suicide prevention phones on all bridges controlled and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

2009-S734 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S734

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
that suicide prevention phones be installed on all bridges under the
control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority


 PURPOSE :
Requires the installation of suicide prevention phones on all bridges
controlled and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(MT A).

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
Section 1 adds a new section, 1277-b, to require suicide prevention
phones on all bridges operated by the MTA. Section 2 states the
installation and location of such phones. Section 3 defines the
signage of such phones. Section 4 is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
This bill is an effort to reduce the number of suicide attempts on
bridges. By installing telephones that will connect directly to a
life-line, called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, hopefully
those led to the bridge by despair will find the help they need before
considering taking their life. The National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) is a network of crisis centers located in

communities across the country that are committed to suicide
prevention. Placing these phones on bridges directly links an
individual to a crisis center where trained personnel in suicide
prevention operate the phones.  In the summer of 2008, the MTA
voluntarily installed phones on the Verrazano-Narrows and Throgs Neck
bridges. Unless placed in statute, these phone can be removed anytime
without legislative approval. This bill would require suicide phones
to be installed on all bridges operated by the MTA.  The intent is to
give that individual contemplating suicide a voice to reassure them
that life is worth living. Such phones have been installed on many
spans around the country, including New York State.  The State Bridge
Authority, which operates five Hudson River Bridges n0l1h of the
Tappan Zee have installed Lifeline phones on those four bridges. The
Tappan Zee also installed the suicide prevention phones and activated
them in August of 2007. All of these bridges have reported diverting a
tragedy.  An individual picks up the phone, talks to a trained
counselor, and hopefully, the outcome is one where the police arrive
and take them to a hospital to receive the help they need.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008: S.7032 - Passed Senate/A.10090 - Reported to Ways & Means.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
Undetermined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2009-S734 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   734

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 14, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law,  in  relation  to  requiring
  that  suicide  prevention phones be installed on all bridges under the
  control of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
section 1277-b to read as follows:
  S 1277-B. SUICIDE PREVENTION PHONES REQUIRED ON ALL  BRIDGES.  1.  FOR
PURPOSES  OF THIS SECTION A "SUICIDE PREVENTION PHONE" SHALL MEAN A TOLL
FREE TELEPHONE WHICH ALLOWS THE USER TO CONNECT  DIRECTLY  TO  LIFELINE,
THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.
  2.  A  SUICIDE  PREVENTION PHONE SHALL BE INSTALLED AT EACH END AND AT
THE MIDWAY POINT OF EACH BRIDGE UNDER THE JURISDICTION  AND  CONTROL  OF
AND OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY.
  3.  SIGNS  WHICH CLEARLY STATE THE EXISTENCE OF THE SUICIDE PREVENTION
PHONE AND ITS USE AND PURPOSE SHALL BE PLACED NEXT TO EACH PHONE AND  ON
THE HIGHWAY AT OR NEAR THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT OF EACH BRIDGE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.




 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02139-01-9

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