NY State Senate Bill 2017-S7920B

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly 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

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 07, 2018	referred to ways and means delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.1649 committee discharged and committed to rules
May 29, 2018	print number 7920b
May 29, 2018	amend and recommit to mental health and developmental disabilities
Apr 16, 2018	print number 7920a
Apr 16, 2018	amend and recommit to mental health and developmental disabilities
Mar 09, 2018	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities

Votes

- Jun 7, 2018 - Floor Vote
  S7920B
  
  61
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  2
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 7, 2018
      
      aye (61)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Akshar
      
      Alcantara
      
      Avella
      
      Bailey
      
      Benjamin
      
      Bonacic
      
      Boyle
      
      Breslin
      
      Brooks
      
      Carlucci
      
      Comrie
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Dilan
      
      Felder
      
      Flanagan
      
      Funke
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Golden
      
      Griffo
      
      Hamilton
      
      Hannon
      
      Helming
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jacobs
      
      Kaminsky
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Marchione
      
      Mayer
      
      Montgomery
      
      Murphy
      
      O'Mara
      
      Ortt
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Persaud
      
      Phillips
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Savino
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Tedisco
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      excused (2)
      
      Amedore
      
      Croci
  Jun 7, 2018 - Rules Committee Vote
  S7920B
  
  25
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: Jun 7, 2018
      
      aye (25)
      
      Bonacic
      
      Breslin
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Dilan
      
      Flanagan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Griffo
      
      Hannon
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Montgomery
      
      Parker
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Savino
      
      Seward
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Valesky

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

2017-S7920 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10406
Current Committee:: Assembly Ways And Means
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §7.48, Ment Hyg L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S2070, A6007

2017-S7920 - Summary

Creates the rural suicide prevention council; requires biennial reports on the findings of the council.

2017-S7920 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7920

SPONSOR: VALESKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating the
rural suicide prevention council

 
PURPOSE:

To establish a Rural Suicide Prevention Council within the Office of
Mental Health to examine and offer recommendations for the prevention of
suicide in rural New York.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

§ 1 - Creates a new section 41.58 of the Mental Hygiene Law entitled
"Rural Suicide Prevention Council"

This bill establishes the "Rural Suicide Prevention Council" with nine
members as follows:

- Two members appointed by the Commissioner of the Office of Mental
Hygiene;

-One member appointed by the Commissioner of Health;

-Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; - Two members
appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate;

-One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and

-One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The Commissioner of the Office of Mental Hygiene shall appoint the chair
of the council. The appropriate appointing authority shall fill vacan-
cies in the membership of the council.

Membership on the council may include but is not limited to, represen-
tatives of local mental hygiene directors, psychiatric and psychological
practitioners , substance abuse professionals, persons with expertise in
public health, persons with expertise in behavioral health, and others
whose professional expertise includes rural affairs related to the
duties of the council.

The council will be charged with examining the causes and conditions
related to the rise of rural suicide including economics, finances,
housing instability, social isolation, loneliness, alcohol and substance
abuse, and access to mental health care.

The council must also identify policies, practices, resources, services
and potential legislation that may result in the reduction of rural
suicide and rural suicide attempts.

The council must offer recommendations for the coordination of services
and resources among agencies involved in suicide prevention.

The council will create a plan to strengthen economic supports, increase
access to and delivery of suicide care, the promotion of social
connections, the identification of persons at-risk for suicide, and the
use of innovative interventions strategies.

The council shall meet at least two times annually. Members of the coun-
cil shall not receive compensation but will be reimbursed for their
actual expenses.

The council shall prepare and submit a report no later than January 1,
2020 and deliver such report to the Governor and the Legislature. The
report shall recommend policies, legislation, and funding needed to
implement the findings of the council.

§ 2 - This act shall take effect on the 90th day.

 
EXISTING LAW:

This is a new section of law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control released data from 2001-2015
which showed that rural counties had higher rates of suicide than metro-
politan counties. Presently, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death
among Americans with over half a million suicides occurring during the
survey period.

The rise in suicide rates is not attributable to one factor but instead
to a number of factors. Increasing rural suicide may be the result of
economic insecurity, social isolation, a dearth of mental health profes-
sionals, higher levels of alcohol and substance abuse, weakened social
supports, and many other factors.

The Rural Suicide Prevention Council envisioned in this legislation
would be tasked with examining the epidemic of suicide in rural New York
and then creating a comprehensive plan to address the problem.  The
outcome of such a plan would be the reduction of suicide in rural New
York.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90th day

2017-S7920 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7920
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 9, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
   mental Disabilities
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law,  in  relation  to  creating  the
   rural suicide prevention council
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a  new  section
 41.58 to read as follows:
 § 41.58 RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL.
   (A)  THERE  SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT, A COUNCIL ON RURAL
 SUICIDE PREVENTION, TO CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS:
   1. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
   2. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;
   3. TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   4. TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED  BY  THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE
 SENATE;
   5. ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND
   6. ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   (B)  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  DESIGNATE THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL FROM
 AMONG SUCH NINE MEMBERS. VACANCIES IN THE  MEMBERSHIP  OF  SUCH  COUNCIL
 SHALL  BE FILLED BY THE APPROPRIATE APPOINTING AUTHORITY. THE MEMBERSHIP
 OF THE COUNCIL MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED  TO,  REPRESENTATIVES  OF
 LOCAL  MENTAL  HYGIENE  DIRECTORS, PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTI-
 TIONERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONALS, PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC
 HEALTH, PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,  AND  OTHERS  WHOSE
 PROFESSIONAL  EXPERTISE  INCLUDES RURAL AFFAIRS RELATED TO THE DUTIES OF
 THE COUNCIL.
   (C) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   1. EXAMINING THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE  RISE  OF  RURAL
 SUICIDE  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL FACTORS,
 HOUSING  INSTABILITY,  SOCIAL  ISOLATION  AND  LONELINESS,  ALCOHOL  AND
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14723-02-8

 S. 7920                             2
 
   2. IDENTIFYING POLICIES, PRACTICES, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND POTENTIAL
 LEGISLATION  THAT  MAY  RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF RURAL SUICIDE AND THE
 REDUCTION IN RURAL SUICIDE ATTEMPTS;
   3.  OFFERING  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  THE  COORDINATION  OF SERVICES AND
 RESOURCES AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SUICIDE PREVENTION; AND
   4. CREATING A PLAN TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC SUPPORTS, INCREASE ACCESS TO
 AND DELIVERY OF SUICIDE CARE, THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL  CONNECTIONS,  THE
 IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS AT-RISK FOR SUICIDE, AND THE USE OF INNOVATIVE
 INTERVENTION STRATEGIES.
   (D)  THE  RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL MEET AS FREQUENTLY AS
 ITS BUSINESS MAY REQUIRE, BUT NOT LESS THAN TWO TIMES ANNUALLY.
   (E) THE MEMBERS OF THE RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL  RECEIVE
 NO  COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL
 AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   (F) THE COUNCIL SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT NO LATER THAN  JANU-
 ARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AND BIENNIALLY THEREAFTER, TO THE GOVER-
 NOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT RECOMMENDS POLICIES, LEGISLATION, AND FUND-
 ING NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE FINDINGS IN THE COUNCIL'S REPORT.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

2017-S7920A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10406
Current Committee:: Assembly Ways And Means
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §7.48, Ment Hyg L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S2070, A6007

2017-S7920A - Summary

Creates the rural suicide prevention council; requires biennial reports on the findings of the council.

2017-S7920A - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7920A

SPONSOR: VALESKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating the
rural suicide prevention council

 
PURPOSE:

To establish a Rural Suicide Prevention Council within the Office of
Mental Health to examine and offer recommendations for the prevention of
suicide in rural New York.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

1 - Creates a new section 41.58 of the Mental Hygiene Law entitled
"Rural Suicide Prevention Council"

This bill establishes the "Rural Suicide Prevention Council" with nine
members as follows:

-Two members appointed by the Commissioner of the Office of Mental
Hygiene;

-One member appointed by the Commissioner of Health;

-Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; - Two members
appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate;

-One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and

-One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The Commissioner of the Office of Mental Hygiene shall appoint the chair
of the council. The appropriate appointing authority shall fill vacan-
cies in the membership of the council.

Membership on the council may include but is not limited to, represen-
tatives of local mental hygiene directors, psychiatric and psychological
practitioners , substance abuse professionals, persons with expertise in
public health, persons with expertise in behavioral health, and others
whose professional expertise includes rural affairs related to the
duties of the council.

The council will be charged with examining the causes and conditions
related to the rise of rural suicide including economics, finances,
housing instability, social isolation, loneliness, alcohol and substance
abuse, and access to mental health care.

The council must also identify policies, practices, resources, services
and potential legislation that may result in the reduction of rural
suicide and rural suicide attempts.

The council must offer recommendations for the coordination of services
and resources among agencies involved in suicide prevention.

The council will create a plan to strengthen economic supports, increase
access to and delivery of suicide care, the promotion of social
connections, the identification of persons at-risk for suicide, and the
use of innovative interventions strategies.

The council shall meet at least two times annually. Members of the coun-
cil shall not receive compensation but will be reimbursed for their
actual expenses.

The council shall prepare and submit a report no later than January 1,
2020 and deliver such report to the Governor and the Legislature. The
report shall recommend policies, legislation, and funding needed to
implement the findings of the council.

§ 2 - This act shall take effect on the 90th day.

 
EXISTING LAW:

This is a new section of law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control released data from 2001-2015
which showed that rural counties had higher rates of suicide than metro-
politan counties. Presently, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death
among Americans with over half a million suicides occurring during the
survey period.

The rise in suicide rates is not attributable to one factor but instead
to a number of factors. Increasing rural suicide may be the result of
economic insecurity, social isolation, a dearth of mental health profes-
sionals, higher levels of alcohol and substance abuse, weakened social
supports, and many other factors.

The Rural Suicide Prevention Council envisioned in this legislation
would be tasked with examining the epidemic of suicide in rural New York
and then creating a comprehensive plan to address the problem.  The
outcome of such a plan would be the reduction of suicide in rural New
York.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90th day

2017-S7920A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7920--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 9, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
   mental Disabilities -- committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  mental hygiene law, in relation to creating the
   rural suicide prevention council

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
 41.58 to read as follows:
 § 41.58 RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL.
   (A) THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT, A COUNCIL  ON  RURAL
 SUICIDE PREVENTION, TO CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS:
   1. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
   2. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;
   3. TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   4.  TWO  MEMBERS  TO  BE  APPOINTED  BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE;
   5. ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND
   6. ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   (B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE THE CHAIR  OF  THE  COUNCIL  FROM
 AMONG  SUCH  NINE  MEMBERS.  VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH COUNCIL
 SHALL BE FILLED BY THE APPROPRIATE APPOINTING AUTHORITY. THE  MEMBERSHIP
 OF  THE  COUNCIL  MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, REPRESENTATIVES OF
 LOCAL MENTAL HYGIENE DIRECTORS, PSYCHIATRIC  AND  PSYCHOLOGICAL  PRACTI-
 TIONERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONALS, PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC
 HEALTH,  PERSONS  WITH  EXPERTISE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND OTHERS WHOSE
 PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE INCLUDES RURAL AFFAIRS RELATED TO THE  DUTIES  OF
 THE COUNCIL.
   (C)  THE  COUNCIL SHALL FOCUS ITS EFFORTS AND WORK ON "RURAL AREAS" AS
 SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE
 LAW.
   (D) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14723-03-8

 S. 7920--A                          2
 
   1. EXAMINING THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE  RISE  OF  RURAL
 SUICIDE  INCLUDING,  BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL FACTORS,
 HOUSING  INSTABILITY,  SOCIAL  ISOLATION  AND  LONELINESS,  ALCOHOL  AND
 SUBSTANCE  ABUSE,  ACCESS  TO  MENTAL  HEALTH CARE AND THE PREVALENCE OF
 SUICIDE AMONG CERTAIN PROFESSIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FARMERS
 AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS;
   2. IDENTIFYING POLICIES, PRACTICES, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND POTENTIAL
 LEGISLATION  THAT  MAY  RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF RURAL SUICIDE AND THE
 REDUCTION IN RURAL SUICIDE ATTEMPTS;
   3. OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  THE  COORDINATION  OF  SERVICES  AND
 RESOURCES AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SUICIDE PREVENTION; AND
   4. CREATING A PLAN TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC SUPPORTS, INCREASE ACCESS TO
 AND  DELIVERY  OF SUICIDE CARE, THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, THE
 IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS AT-RISK FOR SUICIDE, AND THE USE OF INNOVATIVE
 INTERVENTION STRATEGIES.
   (D) THE RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL MEET AS  FREQUENTLY  AS
 ITS BUSINESS MAY REQUIRE, BUT NOT LESS THAN TWO TIMES ANNUALLY.
   (E)  THE MEMBERS OF THE RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE
 NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE  ALLOWED  THEIR  ACTUAL
 AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   (F)  THE COUNCIL SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT NO LATER THAN JANU-
 ARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AND BIENNIALLY THEREAFTER, TO THE GOVER-
 NOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT RECOMMENDS POLICIES, LEGISLATION, AND FUND-
 ING NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE FINDINGS IN THE COUNCIL'S REPORT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

co-Sponsors

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10406
Current Committee:: Assembly Ways And Means
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §7.48, Ment Hyg L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S2070, A6007

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates the rural suicide prevention council; requires biennial reports on the findings of the council.

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7920B

SPONSOR: VALESKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating the
rural suicide prevention council

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce the growing rate of suicide in
rural New York through the establishment of a rural suicide prevention
council.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

A new section 7.48 is added to the mental hygiene law entitled "rural
suicide prevention council."

The new council will consist of twelve members to be appointed as
follows:

*Two members appointed by the Commissioner of the Office of Mental
Hygiene;

*Two members appointed by the Commissioner of Health;

*Two members shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and
Markets;

*Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly;

*Two members appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate;

*One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and

*One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The Commissioner of the Office of Mental Hygiene will appoint the chair
of the council.

Membership on the council may include representatives of local mental
hygiene directors, psychiatric and psychological practitioners,
substance abuse professionals, persons with expertise in public health
issues, any group, association, or university with expertise in finan-
cial or economic analysis, business planning, and providing supports for
farmers and other individuals residing in a rural area, and others whose
professional expertise includes rural affairs related to the duties of
the council.

The council will examine the causes and conditions related to the rise
of rural suicide, as well as access to mental health care in areas
considered "rural" as defined in section 481 of the executive law.  The
council will identify policies, practices, resources, services and
potential legislation that may result in the reduction of rural suicide
and offer recommendations for coordination of the relevant services and
resources.


The council will create a plan to identify persons at-risk for suicide,
particularly within certain professions, including farming and agricul-
tural work, and to increase access to and delivery of suicide care.

The council shall meet at least two times annually. Members of the coun-
cil shall not receive compensation but will be reimbursed for their
actual expenses.

The council will submit a report by January 1, 2020 to the Governor and
the Legislature. The report will recommend policies, legislation, and
funding needed to implement their findings.

*The amendment to this bill adds two appointments by the commissioner of
the Department of Agriculture and Markets and incorporates reference to
membership by those with expertise in financial or economic analysis,
business planning, and providing supports for farmers and other individ-
uals residing in rural areas.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control released data from 2001-2015
which showed that rural counties had higher rates of suicide than metro-
politan counties. Presently, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death
among Americans with over half a million suicides occurring during the
survey period.

The rise in suicide rates is not attributable to one factor but instead
to a number of factors. Increasing rural suicide may be the result of
economic insecurity, social isolation, a dearth of mental health profes-
sionals, higher levels of alcohol and substance abuse, weakened social
supports, and many other factors.

The Rural Suicide Prevention Council envisioned in this legislation
would be tasked with examining the epidemic of suicide in rural New York
and then creating a comprehensive plan to address the problem.  Address-
ing the root problems of the mental health crisis in our state is a
critical first step to helping the state provide needed services to our
residents.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 days after enactment

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7920--B
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 9, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
   mental Disabilities -- committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted  as  amended  and recommitted to said committee -- committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law,  in  relation  to  creating  the
   rural suicide prevention council
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a  new  section
 7.48 to read as follows:
 § 7.48 RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL.
   (A)  THERE  SHALL  BE  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE OFFICE, A COUNCIL ON RURAL
 SUICIDE PREVENTION, TO CONSIST OF TWELVE MEMBERS:
   1. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
   2. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;
   3. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE
 AND MARKETS;
   4. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   5. TWO  MEMBERS  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE;
   6. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE  ASSEM-
 BLY; AND
   7. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   (B)  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  DESIGNATE THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL FROM
 AMONG SUCH TWELVE MEMBERS. VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF  SUCH  COUNCIL
 SHALL  BE FILLED BY THE APPROPRIATE APPOINTING AUTHORITY. THE MEMBERSHIP
 OF THE COUNCIL MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED  TO,  REPRESENTATIVES  OF
 THE  STATE CONFERENCE OF LOCAL MENTAL HYGIENE DIRECTORS, PSYCHIATRIC AND
 PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTITIONERS, SUBSTANCE USE  AND  MENTAL  HEALTH  PROFES-
 SIONALS  WITH  EXPERIENCE  IN  THE  DELIVERY OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
 SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS, PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES,
 ANY GROUP, ASSOCIATION, OR UNIVERSITY WITH  EXPERTISE  IN  FINANCIAL  OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14723-10-8

 S. 7920--B                          2
 
 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR FARMERS
 AND  OTHER INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN RURAL AREAS, AND OTHERS WHOSE PROFES-
 SIONAL EXPERTISE INCLUDES RURAL AFFAIRS RELATED TO  THE  DUTIES  OF  THE
 COUNCIL.
   (C)  THE  COUNCIL SHALL FOCUS ITS EFFORTS AND WORK ON "RURAL AREAS" AS
 SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE
 LAW.
   (D) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   1. EXAMINING THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO  RURAL  SUICIDES  OR
 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE AMONG CERTAIN PROFESSIONS
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS;
   2. IDENTIFYING POLICIES, PRACTICES, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND POTENTIAL
 LEGISLATION  THAT MAY RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF RURAL SUICIDE AND RURAL
 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS;
   3. OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE  THE
 COORDINATION  OF  SERVICES  AND RESOURCES AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE
 DELIVERY  OF  MENTAL  HEALTH,  SUBSTANCE  USE,  OR  SUICIDE   PREVENTION
 SERVICES; AND
   4. MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON FUNDING INITIATIVES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO
 MENTAL  HEALTH,  SUBSTANCE USE, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES IN RURAL
 AREAS AND FACILITATE  THE  USE  OF  INNOVATIVE  INTERVENTION  STRATEGIES
 SPECIFIC TO INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN RURAL AREAS.
   (E)  THE RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL MEET NOT LESS THAN TWO
 TIMES ANNUALLY, OR AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE CHAIR OF  THE  COUNCIL  OR
 THE COMMISSIONER.
   (F)  THE MEMBERS OF THE RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE
 NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE  ALLOWED  THEIR  ACTUAL
 AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   (G)  THE COUNCIL SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT NO LATER THAN JANU-
 ARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY, AND BIENNIALLY THEREAFTER, TO THE GOVER-
 NOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT RECOMMENDS POLICIES, LEGISLATION, AND FUND-
 ING NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE FINDINGS IN THE COUNCIL'S REPORT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S7920B

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

Jun 7, 2018 - Floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 7, 2018

Jun 7, 2018 - Rules Committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 7, 2018

Bill Amendments

2017-S7920 - Details

2017-S7920 - Summary

2017-S7920 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S7920A - Details

2017-S7920A - Summary

2017-S7920A - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7920B

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Sponsored By

David J. Valesky

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

Bill Amendments

2017-S7920 - Details

2017-S7920 - Summary

2017-S7920 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S7920A - Details

2017-S7920A - Summary

2017-S7920A - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Luis R. Sepúlveda

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7920B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments