BILL NUMBER: S1764

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to directing the division
of veterans' services to route 988 calls to the national suicide
prevention lifeline

 
PURPOSE::

To allow for a direct transfer when dialing the telephone number "988"
to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number 1-800-273-8255.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 353-b to
require that all telephone calls to number 988 are immediately connected
to the national suicide prevention telephone number.

Requires the Division of Veterans Services to work in cooperation with
              

the office of information technology services, and landline and wireless
telephone service providers in carrying out the provisions of this
section.

Subsection 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 20 veter-
ans commit suicide each day in U.S. This cause of death could be
preventable, if the victim receives sufficient support and mental health
services prior to resorting to this tragic act.

Our veterans have made great sacrifices for each and every citizen in
our country and are entitled to the very best health care and mental
health care when they return from active duty, including prevention
services. The 988 number is much easier to remember in a crisis situ-
ation than the 1-800-2738255 hotline number and can be readily adver-
tised.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:: 2020:

S. 8066 - Referred to Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs Committee.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

Immediately.