S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2761
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 25, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  FERNANDEZ  --  read once and referred 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:
 
   Section  1.  Latina suicide prevention task force. (a) There is hereby
 created the Latina suicide prevention task force  to  examine,  evaluate
 and  determine  how  to improve mental health and suicide prevention for
 our Latina New York residents, consisting  of  seven  members,  each  to
 serve until two years after the effective date of this act.
   (b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be
 appointed  by  the governor; one member shall be appointed by the tempo-
 rary president of the senate; one  member  shall  be  appointed  by  the
 minority  leader  of  the  senate;  one member shall be appointed by the
 speaker of the assembly; one member shall be appointed by  the  minority
 leader  of  the  assembly;  and  two  members  shall be appointed by the
 commissioner of health. Appointments shall be made within sixty days  of
 the  effective  date  of  this act. Vacancies in the task force shall be
 filled in the same manner provided for original appointments.
   (2) All appointees shall  have  expertise  in  fields  or  disciplines
 related  to mental health and knowledge related to the Latina community.
 All appointments shall be coordinated  to  ensure  geographic  represen-
 tation from the entire state.
   (3)  The  task force shall be chaired by the governor's appointee. The
 task force shall elect a vice-chair and other  necessary  officers  from
 among all appointed members.
   (4)  A  majority  of  the  members  of  the task force in office shall
 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the  exercise  of
 any  power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci-
 sion of the majority of the members present during  the  presence  of  a
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03620-01-9

 A. 2761                             2
 
 quorum  shall  be  held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
 task force.
   (5)  The  task  force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may  be
 called  by  the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
 task force.
   (6) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for  their
 services  but  shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
   (c) The task force shall:
   (1) study current  mental  health  practices  and  suicide  prevention
 efforts;
   (2)  recommend  mental health practices and suicide prevention efforts
 to increase effectiveness across the state; and
   (3)  determine  potential  reasons  for  the  high  number  of  Latina
 suicides.
   (d)  The task force may establish such advisory committees as it deems
 appropriate on matters relating to the task  force's  functions,  powers
 and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
 may  be  composed  of  task  force  members as well as other individuals
 selected by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific  to
 the charge of such committees.
   (e) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
 surveys,  or  analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or  public  authorities
 shall  provide  information  and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
 assist the task force with its work.
   (f) The task force shall submit a request  for  any  appropriation  as
 shall be necessary to enable the task force to perform its functions and
 duties  to  the governor, director of the division of budget, and chair-
 persons of the senate finance committee and the assembly ways and  means
 committee.
   (g)  The  task force may hold public hearings, take testimony and make
 investigations at such places as it deems necessary.
   (h) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
 the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
 ities already undertaken by the task  force,  not  later  than  thirteen
 months  after  the effective date of this act, and a final report of its
 findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already undertaken
 by the task force, not later than twenty-two months after the  effective
 date of this act and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals
 as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
   §  2.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
 have become a law and shall expire 2 years  after  such  effective  date
 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.