S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7188
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 12, 2023
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Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the
rural suicide prevention council; and providing 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. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
7.49 to read as follows:
§ 7.49 RURAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL.
(A) THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE, A COUNCIL ON RURAL
SUICIDE PREVENTION. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE THE COMMISSION-
ER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE. THERE SHALL BE TWELVE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
INCLUDING FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; THREE MEMBERS SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; THREE MEMBERS SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; ONE MEMBER SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY; AND ONE MEMBER SHALL
BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE THE CHAIR FROM APPOINTED COUNCIL
MEMBERS. VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH COUNCIL SHALL BE FILLED BY
THE APPROPRIATE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
(C) THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE CONFERENCE OF LOCAL MENTAL HYGIENE DIREC-
TORS; MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PRACTITIONERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN
THE DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES
IN RURAL AREAS; PERSONS WITH EXPERTISE IN RESEARCH OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUES IN RURAL AREAS; ANY GROUP, ASSOCIATION, OR UNIVERSITY WITH EXPER-
TISE IN FINANCIAL OR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND PROVIDING
SUPPORTS FOR FARMERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN A RURAL AREA;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11381-01-3
A. 7188 2
CERTIFIED PEERS; RURAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO HAVE
BEEN OR ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR SUPPORTS; AND
OTHERS WHOSE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE INCLUDES RURAL AFFAIRS RELATED TO
THE DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE TERM
RURAL AREAS SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IT 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) IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT
AND PREVENTION SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO
DEATH BY SUICIDE OR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE;
(2) DETERMINE IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT CAPACITY FOR PEER SUPPORTS AND
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES;
(3) ASSESS THE USE OF THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE IN RURAL
AREAS OF THE STATE AND IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO INCREASE UTILIZATION;
(4) IDENTIFYING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN RURAL AREAS AND THE PREVA-
LENCE OF SUICIDE AMONG SUCH POPULATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS;
(5) IDENTIFYING POLICIES, PRACTICES, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND POTEN-
TIAL LEGISLATION THAT AIM TO REDUCE DEATH BY SUICIDE AND SUICIDE
ATTEMPTS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES;
(6) 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
(7) 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
THREE 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.
THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE OF ITS FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
ALREADY UNDERTAKEN BY THE COUNCIL, NOT LATER THAN NINE MONTHS AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, AND A FINAL REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS, CONCLU-
SIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ALREADY UNDERTAKEN BY THE COUNCIL,
NOT LATER THAN EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION
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.