S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7977
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 4, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  BLANKENBUSH -- 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.
              

                                                            LBD10015-03-1

 A. 7977                             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-THREE, 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.