S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  9923--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 26, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting  the  college
   student suicide prevention act
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "college student suicide prevention act".
   §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 6438-d to
 read as follows:
   § 6438-D. COLLEGE  STUDENT  SUICIDE  PREVENTION  ACT.  1.  LEGISLATIVE
 INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE FEDERAL CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
 PREVENTION  AS  REPORTED IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE, SUICIDE IS
 THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUTH  AND  YOUNG  ADULTS  TEN  TO
 TWENTY-FOUR  YEARS  OF AGE, INCLUSIVE, ACROSS BOTH THE STATE OF NEW YORK
 AND THE UNITED STATES. SUICIDE RATES NEARLY DOUBLED AMONG NEW YORK STATE
 YOUTH IN THIS AGE RANGE FROM THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND SEVEN TO THE YEAR TWO
 THOUSAND EIGHTEEN. ONE IN FOUR SURVEYED YOUNG ADULTS EIGHTEEN  TO  TWEN-
 TY-FOUR  YEARS  OF AGE, THE LARGEST AGE DEMOGRAPHIC ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES,
 REPORTED HAVING SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE  PRIOR  THIRTY  DAYS
 NATIONALLY.
   (B)  IN  THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, SEPARATE REPORTS FROM THE
 HEALTHY MINDS NETWORK'S NATIONAL HEALTHY MINDS SURVEY,  THE  GALLUP  AND
 LUMINA  FOUNDATION'S  NATIONAL STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION SURVEY, AND THE
 AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL COLLEGE HEALTH ASSESSMENT
 DECLARED THAT UNITED STATES COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE EXPERIENCING  HISTORIC
 LEVELS  OF  DEPRESSION,  ANXIETY,  SUICIDAL IDEATION, FREQUENT EMOTIONAL
 STRESS, OVERALL MODERATE TO SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS,  AND  LONELI-
 NESS.
   (C)  ACCORDING  TO THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, NEW
 YORK STATE IS NOT AMONG THE TWENTY-ONE  STATES  THAT  UNIFORMLY  REQUIRE
 INSTITUTIONS  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION  TO  ADOPT  SPECIFIC, EVIDENCE-BASED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14926-02-4
 A. 9923--A                          2
 
 SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICIES BY LAW. SUCH POLICIES  INCLUDE  THE  REGULAR
 DISSEMINATION  OF  INFORMATION  ON AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND
 SERVICES TO STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT OF  GUIDELINES
 AND PROTOCOLS TO INFORM STAFF ON HOW TO RESPOND TO A STUDENT IN SUICIDAL
 CRISIS,  IN  ORDER TO MOST EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THOSE AT RISK AND EMPOWER
 STUDENTS TO PROACTIVELY SEEK HELP.
   (D) ACCORDING TO DATA FROM HEALTHY CUNY, AS REPORTED IN THE  YEAR  TWO
 THOUSAND  TWENTY-ONE,  MORE THAN HALF OF ALL CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
 STUDENTS REPORT EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY. WHILE  NEARLY  EVERY
 CITY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK  INSTITUTION  HOUSES  ITS OWN COUNSELING
 CENTER, DATA REPORTED BY THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK BOARD OF  TRUS-
 TEES  IN  THE  BOARD'S FOUR-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN RELEASED IN THE YEAR TWO
 THOUSAND NINETEEN STATED THAT  THE  AVERAGE  STUDENT-TO-COUNSELOR  RATIO
 ACROSS  THE  CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM IS AT LEAST TWO THOUSAND
 FOUR HUNDRED-TO-ONE. UNTIL ADEQUATE STAFFING  LEVELS  OF  MENTAL  HEALTH
 PROFESSIONALS  CAN  BE  SUSTAINABLY  FUNDED,  UNIFORMLY REQUIRING HIGHER
 EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY  PROVIDERS
 IS  IMPERATIVE  TO  MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AT SUCH INSTITUTIONS WITH
 LARGE STUDENT-TO-COUNSELOR RATIOS OR WHOSE STUDENT POPULATIONS PRIMARILY
 LIVE OFF-CAMPUS.
   (E) ESTABLISHING GATEKEEPER SUICIDE PREVENTION OR  MENTAL  HEALTH  AID
 TRAINING  REQUIREMENTS  AND  OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE RESIDENTIAL STAFF
 AND OTHER STUDENT-FACING POSITIONS HAS BEEN  RECOMMENDED  BY  THE  STATE
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS TASK FORCE AND
 ADOPTED BY DOZENS OF STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER,
 THESE  REQUIREMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MODELED BY MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSI-
 TIES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK  SYSTEM,  WEAKENING
 PREPAREDNESS  FRAMEWORKS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ALIKE.  AS  STUDENTS  MOST  OFTEN  SEEK
 EMOTIONAL  SUPPORT FROM PEERS AND THOSE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, INSTITUTIONS
 MUST COMPEL RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS AND STAFF TO UTILIZE THE  FREE  QUES-
 TION,  PERSUADE,  AND  REFER  SUICIDE  PREVENTION TRAINING ALREADY FULLY
 FUNDED BY STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FOR ALL NEW  YORK  STATE  COLLEGE
 STUDENTS  IN  ORDER  TO  BOLSTER  THEIR  PREPAREDNESS FOR SUCH EMERGENCY
 SCENARIOS.
   (F) NEW YORK STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE  FACING  A  DEEPENING
 MENTAL  HEALTH  CRISIS AMONG STUDENTS, MARKED BY INCREASES IN THE PREVA-
 LENCE OF THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AND  ATTEMPTS.  ALL  LEVELS  OF  COLLEGIATE
 STAFF  MUST  BE  EQUIPPED  BY  THEIR  RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS' POLICIES,
 GUIDELINES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO EFFECTIVELY  AND  APPROPRIATELY
 PREVENT  STUDENT  SUICIDE,  INTERVENE  IN CRISIS SITUATIONS, AND SUPPORT
 THEIR COLLEGE COMMUNITIES IN POSTVENTION.
   2. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING  TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A)  "CRISIS  SITUATION"  MEANS  A  SITUATION WHERE A TEACHER OR OTHER
 EMPLOYEE OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION BELIEVES A STUDENT OR OTHER INDI-
 VIDUAL IS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
   (B) "LGBTQ" MEANS INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY,  WITH  REGARDS  TO  GENDER
 IDENTIFICATION  AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AS BEING LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
 TRANSGENDER, QUEER OR QUESTIONING.
   (C) "HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION"  MEANS  A  COLLEGE  UNIVERSITY,  OR
 PROFESSIONAL  OR  TECHNICAL  SCHOOL, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, THAT HAS
 BEEN INCORPORATED BY A SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE  OR  CHARTERED  BY
 THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO CONFER ACADEM-
 IC DEGREES IN THIS STATE.
 A. 9923--A                          3
 
   (D)  "QPR"  MEANS  SUICIDE  PREVENTION TRAINING BASED ON THE QUESTION,
 PERSUADE, AND REFER EMERGENCY RESPONSE MODEL.
   (E)  "SUICIDE  INTERVENTION"  MEANS  SPECIFIC ACTIONS HIGHER EDUCATION
 INSTITUTIONS CAN TAKE IN RESPONSE TO SUICIDAL  BEHAVIOR  BY  A  STUDENT,
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I) STUDENT SUPERVISION;
   (II) NOTIFICATION OF DESIGNATED EMERGENCY CONTACTS;
   (III) CRISIS SITUATION RESPONSE PROTOCOLS;
   (IV)  WHEN AND HOW TO REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OR
 EMERGENCY SERVICES; AND
   (V) HIGHER  EDUCATION  INSTITUTION  RE-ENTRY  PROCEDURES  FOLLOWING  A
 STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
   (F)  "SUICIDE  POSTVENTION"  MEANS  PLANNED  SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS
 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS CAN IMPLEMENT AFTER A SUICIDE  ATTEMPT  OR
 SUICIDE  DEATH OF A MEMBER OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION COMMUNITY
 THAT ARE DESIGNED TO:
   (I) REDUCE THE RISK OF SUICIDE CONTAGION, OR THE  SPREAD  OF  SUICIDAL
 THOUGHTS OR INTENTIONS;
   (II) PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AFFECTED STUDENTS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTI-
 TUTION-BASED PERSONNEL;
   (III) ADDRESS THE SOCIAL STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE; AND
   (IV) DISSEMINATE FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT SUICIDE AND ITS PREVENTION.
   (G)  "SUICIDE  PREVENTION"  MEANS  SPECIFIC  ACTIONS  HIGHER EDUCATION
 INSTITUTIONS CAN TAKE TO RECOGNIZE AND REDUCE SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR, INCLUD-
 ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I) IDENTIFYING RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR  SUICIDE  AND  SUICIDE
 WARNING SIGNS;
   (II) ESTABLISHING A PROCESS BY WHICH STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO A MENTAL
 AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER FOR HELP;
   (III) MAKING AVAILABLE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION-BASED AND COMMUNI-
 TY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS;
   (IV)  PROVIDING THE LOCATION OF AVAILABLE ONLINE AND COMMUNITY SUICIDE
 PREVENTION RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE  AND
 OTHER LOCAL CRISIS CENTERS AND HOTLINES;
   (V)  ADOPTING  POLICIES  AND  PROTOCOLS  REGARDING SUICIDE PREVENTION,
 INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION, CAMPUS SAFETY,  AND  RESPONSE  TO  CRISIS
 SITUATIONS;
   (VI)  TRAINING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION PERSONNEL WHO INTERACT
 DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS IN RECOGNIZING SUICIDE RISK FACTORS  AND  WARNING
 SIGNS  AND  HOW TO REFER STUDENTS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION;
 AND
   (VII) INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING AND COPING SKILLS  TO
 PROMOTE  STUDENTS'  MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING,
 AND INSTRUCTION IN RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATELY RESPONDING TO SIGNS  OF
 SUICIDAL INTENT IN OTHERS.
   3.  POLICIES,  PROCEDURES,  AND GUIDELINES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTI-
 TUTIONS. (A) THE GOVERNING BOARD  OR  BODY  OF  EVERY  HIGHER  EDUCATION
 INSTITUTION  SHALL, BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF AUGUST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
 FOUR, ADOPT POLICIES, PROCEDURES,  AND  GUIDELINES  ON  STUDENT  SUICIDE
 PREVENTION,  INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION FOR SAID STUDENTS. SUCH POLI-
 CIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES SHALL BE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH
 COLLEGIATE AND COMMUNITY  STAKEHOLDERS,  CAMPUS-EMPLOYED  MENTAL  HEALTH
 PROFESSIONALS,  AND  SUICIDE  PREVENTION EXPERTS, AND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT
 NOT BE LIMITED TO:
 A. 9923--A                          4
 
   (I) METHODS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  SUICIDE
 AND  SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS, RISK FACTORS AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS, INCLUD-
 ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (1) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONDITIONS;
   (2) CHILDHOOD ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR TRAUMA;
   (3)  PROLONGED STRESS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES SUCH AS BULLY-
 ING, HARASSMENT, FAMILY OR RELATIONSHIP STRESS, OR OTHER STRESSFUL  LIFE
 EVENTS  AS  WELL  AS  COLLECTIVE  STRESSORS  SUCH  AS  SYSTEMIC BIAS AND
 DISCRIMINATION;
   (4) EXPOSURE TO ANOTHER PERSON'S SUICIDE, OR SENSATIONALIZED OR GRAPH-
 IC ACCOUNTS OF SUICIDE; AND
   (5) PREVIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPTS OR HISTORY OF SUICIDE WITHIN A STUDENT'S
 FAMILY;
   (II) ADOPTION OF A REQUIREMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS AND STAFF OF
 STUDENT HOUSING FACILITIES, STUDENTS' ACADEMIC  AND  PROFESSIONAL  ADVI-
 SORS,  AND  CAMPUS  SECURITY  PERSONNEL  TO  PARTICIPATE IN EITHER A QPR
 GATEKEEPER SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING  COURSE,  OR  A  SIMILAR  PROGRAM
 PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR DUTIES OR BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE
 NEXT FULL ACADEMIC YEAR.  SUCH TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMIT-
 ED TO:
   (1)  METHODS  FOR  EARLY  IDENTIFICATION  OF  SUICIDE RISK FACTORS AND
 INCLUSION OF EXPERTISE FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION  EMPLOYEES  WHO
 HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TRAINED IN RECOGNIZING SUICIDE RISKS;
   (2)  INFORMATION  ON HOW HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES SHOULD
 RESPOND TO SUSPICION, CONCERNS, OR WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE IN STUDENTS,
 AND THE APPROPRIATE REFERRAL AND REPORTING PROCEDURES AVAILABLE TO HIGH-
 ER EDUCATION INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES;
   (3) INFORMATION ON HOW HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION  EMPLOYEES  SHOULD
 RESPOND  WITHIN  THEIR MEANS TO A CRISIS SITUATION WHERE A STUDENT IS IN
 IMMINENT DANGER TO SUCH STUDENT;
   (4) POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS TO RESPOND TO A STUDENT OR STAFF SUICIDE OR
 SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS AND AFFECTED PEERS  AND
 FAMILIES;
   (III) COUNSELING SERVICES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTI-
 TUTION  FOR  STUDENTS  AND  THEIR  FAMILIES  THAT ARE RELATED TO SUICIDE
 PREVENTION;
   (IV) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT  DEPRESSION  AND  OTHER  MENTAL
 HEALTH  CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE, INCLUD-
 ING DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANNUAL LIVE ORIENTATION SESSION FOR NEWLY MATRICU-
 LATED STUDENTS AIMED AT RAISING AWARENESS OF SAID CONDITIONS;
   (V) IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIALIZED MENTAL  HEALTH  AWARENESS  CURRICULA
 INTO  EXISTING  COURSES  AND  SEMINARS  IF OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATION
 EXIST;
   (VI) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING  CRISIS  SITUATION  INTER-
 VENTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY
 FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION EMPLOY-
 EES, AND INCLUSION OF SAID INFORMATION ON DEDICATED PAGES OF THE STUDENT
 HANDBOOK  AND  HIGHER  EDUCATION  INSTITUTION  WEBSITE OR PRIMARY MOBILE
 APPLICATION;
   (VII) REVISION OF EMERGENCY CONTACT NOTIFICATION PROTOCOLS TO  INCLUDE
 A STUDENT'S EXPRESSION OF THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AS AMONG THE CIRCUMSTANCES
 IN WHICH NOTIFICATION OF SAID STUDENT'S DESIGNATED EMERGENCY CONTACT MAY
 TAKE  PLACE BY A CAMPUS-EMPLOYED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, AFTER NOTI-
 FYING SAID STUDENT OF THE PROTOCOL'S ACTIVATION AND  FOLLOWING  CASE-BY-
 CASE  CONSIDERATION  AND  DOCUMENTATION  OF ANY OBJECTIONS RAISED BY THE
 STUDENT, ANY CONCERNS THAT DISCLOSURE OF SUCH INFORMATION  MAY  THREATEN
 A. 9923--A                          5
 
 THE  STUDENT'S SAFETY OR UNREASONABLY COMPROMISE THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY,
 AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE FINAL DETERMINATION THAT SUCH DISCLOSURE IS
 IN THE STUDENT'S BEST INTEREST IS MADE;
   (VIII) REVISION OF EMERGENCY CONTACT NOTIFICATION PROTOCOLS TO INCLUDE
 LANGUAGE  SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION'S ROLE
 FOLLOWING NOTIFICATION, THE INSTITUTION'S EXPECTATION  OF  AN  EMERGENCY
 CONTACT FOLLOWING NOTIFICATION, AND THE CONTACT EMPLOYEE AT THE INSTITU-
 TION  WHO  MAY  ANSWER  QUESTIONS  REGARDING THE PROTOCOL, WITH ALL SAID
 INFORMATION BEING  ROUTINELY  COMMUNICATED  TO  STUDENTS  AND  EMERGENCY
 CONTACTS  AND  PUBLISHED  ON DEDICATED PAGES OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK AND
 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION WEBSITE OR PRIMARY MOBILE APPLICATION;
   (IX) PERIODIC ASSESSMENTS OF ELEMENTS OF THE CAMPUS  ENVIRONMENT  THAT
 MAY BE USED IN A SUICIDE ATTEMPT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ACCESS TO
 BUILDING  ROOFTOPS, BALCONIES, WINDOWS, AND BRIDGES, OR ACCESS TO DRUGS,
 ALCOHOL, AND TOXIC OR  CONTROLLED  DANGEROUS  SUBSTANCES,  AND  WAYS  TO
 SECURE  THESE  LOCATIONS  AND  SUBSTANCES  TO  MINIMIZE THREATS POSED TO
 STUDENTS' HEALTH AND SAFETY;
   (X) ASSESSMENTS OF NEW AND PROPOSED CAMPUS BUILDINGS  AND  INFRASTRUC-
 TURE,  AS WELL AS REVISIONS AND UPDATES TO EXISTING CAMPUS BUILDINGS AND
 INFRASTRUCTURE, DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS,  FOR  THE  IMPLEMENTATION  OF
 SUICIDE  DETERRENT  BARRIERS  AND  OTHER  MEASURES TO MINIMIZE ACCESS TO
 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT HEIGHT, REDUCING SUICIDE RISK;
   (XI) REVISION OF MEDICAL LEAVE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES  TO  NO  LONGER
 COMPEL A STUDENT TO INVOLUNTARILY WITHDRAW FROM ENROLLMENT SOLELY ON THE
 GROUNDS  OF HAVING CONSIDERED OR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, WITHOUT FIRST ALLOW-
 ING SAID STUDENT TO TAKE A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE  TO  SEEK  SUPPORT
 FOR  THEIR  MENTAL  HEALTH  AND  PROVIDING A GUARANTEE OF READMISSION OR
 REINSTATEMENT FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF SUCH A LEAVE OF ABSENCE;
   (XII)  IDENTIFICATION  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  OFF-CAMPUS  PEER  SUPPORT
 PROGRAMS  AND  PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND
 AGENCIES FOR REFERRAL OF COMMUTER STUDENTS AND OTHER  STUDENTS  WHO  MAY
 NOT  SUBSTANTIALLY  BENEFIT  FROM  ON-CAMPUS  SERVICES TO MENTAL HEALTH,
 SUBSTANCE USE, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
 AT LEAST ONE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN  THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION
 INSTITUTION  AND  A  SUPPORTING  PROVIDER, ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY IN THE
 COMMUNITY OR REGION;
   (XIII) DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY COMPETENT PLAN TO PROMOTE SENSITIV-
 ITY IN OUTREACH TO DIVERSE AND TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, TO
 ASSIST SURVIVORS OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, AND TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND HIGHER
 EDUCATION INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES IN COPING WITH AN ATTEMPTED  SUICIDE  OR
 SUICIDE DEATH WITHIN THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION COMMUNITY; AND
   (XIV)  DEVELOPMENT  OF  ANY  OTHER  RELATED  PROGRAM  OR  ACTIVITY FOR
 STUDENTS OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES.
   (B) THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES ADOPTED PURSUANT TO PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL SPECIFICALLY OUTLINE  SENSITIVE  AND
 COMPETENT  RESPONSES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HIGH-RISK GROUPS, INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) YOUTH WHO HAVE LOST A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TO SUICIDE;
   (II) YOUTH  WITH  DISABILITIES  OR  WITH  CHRONIC  HEALTH  CONDITIONS,
 INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONDITIONS;
   (III) YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR IN OUT-OF-HOME SETTINGS, SUCH
 AS FOSTER CARE;
   (IV) YOUTH BELONGING TO RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AND INTERNA-
 TIONAL STUDENTS;
   (V) LGBTQ YOUTH;
   (VI) FIRST-YEAR, TRANSFER, OR OTHERWISE NEWLY MATRICULATED STUDENTS;
 A. 9923--A                          6
 
   (VII)  YOUTH  PARTICIPATING IN DEMANDING OR HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS,
 INCLUDING STUDENT ATHLETES AND ACADEMIC HONORS OR ACCELERATED  STUDENTS;
 AND
   (VIII) YOUTH REPORTING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL OR ACADEMIC CHALLENGES AS
 BARRIERS  TO  THEIR  ABILITY  TO  FULLY  PARTICIPATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
 INSTITUTION ACTIVITIES.
   (C) THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES ADOPTED PURSUANT TO PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE WRITTEN TO ENSURE THAT  A  HIGHER
 EDUCATION  INSTITUTION  EMPLOYEE  ACTS ONLY WITHIN THE AUTHORIZATION AND
 SCOPE OF SUCH EMPLOYEE'S CREDENTIAL OR LICENSE. NOTHING IN THIS  SECTION
 SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  AS  AUTHORIZING  OR ENCOURAGING A HIGHER EDUCATION
 INSTITUTION EMPLOYEE TO  DIAGNOSE  OR  TREAT  MENTAL  HEALTH  CONDITIONS
 UNLESS SUCH EMPLOYEE IS SPECIFICALLY LICENSED AND EMPLOYED TO DO SO.
   (D)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NO
 CAUSE OF ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANY  ACT
 OR  OMISSION RESULTING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SECTION, OR RESULTING FROM ANY TRAINING, OR LACK OF  TRAINING,  REQUIRED
 BY  THIS  SECTION.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO IMPOSE
 ANY SPECIFIC DUTY OF CARE.
   (E) TO ASSIST HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING POLICIES FOR
 STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION, THE BOARD  OF
 REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL DEVELOP AND
 MAINTAIN MODEL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH
 THIS SECTION TO SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. SUCH
 MODEL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES SHALL BE POSTED WITHIN THIRTY
 DAYS  OF  THEIR  COMPLETION  ON THE UNIVERSITY'S INTERNET WEBSITE, ALONG
 WITH RELEVANT RESOURCES AND  INFORMATION  TO  SUPPORT  HIGHER  EDUCATION
 INSTITUTIONS  IN  DEVELOPING  AND IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
 AND GUIDELINES REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (F) THE TRUSTEES OR OTHER GOVERNING BOARD OR BODY OF A  HIGHER  EDUCA-
 TION INSTITUTION SHALL REVIEW, AT MINIMUM EVERY FIFTH YEAR FOLLOWING THE
 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, ITS POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES
 ON  STUDENT  SUICIDE PREVENTION AND, IF NECESSARY, UPDATE SUCH POLICIES,
 PROCEDURES, AND GUIDELINES.
   4. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL
 BE SEVERABLE, AND IF ANY COURT OF COMPETENT  JURISDICTION  DECLARES  ANY
 PHRASE,  CLAUSE, SENTENCE OR PROVISION OF THIS SECTION TO BE INVALID, OR
 ITS APPLICABILITY TO ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, PERSON  OR  CIRCUMSTANCE  IS
 DECLARED  INVALID, THE REMAINDER OF THIS SECTION AND ITS RELEVANT APPLI-
 CABILITY SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL  BE
 LIBERALLY CONSTRUED TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PURPOSES THEREOF.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.