S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6007
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 26, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. EPSTEIN
   -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
 
 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
 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR FARMERS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00560-01-9

 A. 6007                             2
 
 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-ONE, AND BIENNIALLY  THEREAFTER,  TO  THE
 GOVERNOR  AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT RECOMMENDS POLICIES, LEGISLATION, AND
 FUNDING 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.