NY State Senate Bill 2021-S3913

Senate Bill S3913

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Authorizes and directs the commissioner of mental health to conduct a study on the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and taxi drivers in the state

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health 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
Jan 05, 2022	referred to mental health
Feb 01, 2021	referred to mental health

2021-S3913 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1832
Current Committee:: Senate Mental Health
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S6506, A8589
2023-2024: S3382

2021-S3913 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes and directs the commissioner of mental health to conduct a study on the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and taxi drivers in the state and make a report and recommendations on the findings of such study within one year.

2021-S3913 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S3913

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act authorizing and directing the commissioner of mental health to
conduct a study on the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and taxi
drivers in the state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon the expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This bill requires the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health to
study suicide rates among taxi medallion holders.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one authorizes and directs the commissioner of mental health to
conduct a study on the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and what
factors contribute to these acts.

Subsection two of Section one establishes that the commissioner of
mental health may consult with any state or local office, agency, or
department to request information from any such entity that is relevant
to the completion of this study and report.

Subsection three of Section one directs that the commissioner submit the
governor, the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of
the Assembly a report containing the study's findings concerning the
suicide rate of taxi medallion holders and taxi drivers and the contrib-
uting factors to the rate.

Section two establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In recent years an economic crisis has swept through New York City's
taxi industry, bringing financial and personal despair to medallion
owners. After years of questionable lending practices, medallion cost
increases, and the introduction of ride hailing apps in New York City,
taxi medallions that once sold for over $1 million in 2014 are now
valued at a fraction of that cost.  Many drivers throughout New York
City took out significant loans to pay for those medallions and are now
facing an entirely different market, and falling behind on loan
payments, standing to lose not only their medallions that allow them to
earn a living, but also their homes and savings.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of
reported suicides by professional taxi drivers, highlighting the truly
dire financial circumstances facing medallion owners. According to the
New York Times, as of May 2019, at least eight drivers, including three
medallion owners with overwhelming loans have committed suicide. This
legislation directs the Office of Mental Health to conduct a study on
the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and taxi drivers in New York
State. This study will examine the contributing factors and provide
policy recommendations and other actions that can be taken to reduce or
eliminate this health crisis.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020 S.6506: Committed to Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed 2 years after such date.

2021-S3913 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3913
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
 
 AN ACT authorizing and directing the commissioner of  mental  health  to
   conduct  a  study  on  the suicide rates of taxi medallion holders and
   taxi drivers in the state;  and  providing  for  the  repeal  of  such
   provisions upon the expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. 1. The commissioner of  mental  health  is  authorized  and
 directed to conduct a study on the suicide rates of taxi medallion hold-
 ers  and  taxi  drivers in the state and what factors contribute to such
 rates.
   2. In conducting such study, the commissioner  of  mental  health  may
 consult  with  any  state  or  local  office,  agency, or department and
 request information from any such entity that is relevant  and  material
 to the completion of this study and report.
   3.  Within  one  year  after  the  effective date of this section, the
 commissioner of mental health shall prepare and submit to the  governor,
 the  temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the
 minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly  a
 report  containing  the  study's findings concerning the suicide rate of
 taxi medallion holders and taxi drivers,  the  factors  contributing  to
 such  rate and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can
 be undertaken to reduce or eliminate suicides by taxi medallion  holders
 and taxi drivers.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed 2 years after such date.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00107-01-1

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