S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1250
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 11, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. SALAZAR, BRISPORT, CLEARE, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, HOYL-
   MAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KENNEDY, LIU, MYRIE, RAMOS, SEPULVEDA, SKOUFIS  --
   read  twice  and  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee on Mental Health
 
 AN ACT to establish an LGBTQ+ youth and young adult  suicide  prevention
   task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
   ration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. LGBTQ+ youth and young adult suicide prevention task force.
 (a) There is hereby created the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
 queer+ (LGBTQ+) youth and young adult suicide prevention task  force  to
 examine, evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide
 prevention  for  New  York's LGBTQ+ youth and young adults up to age 24,
 consisting of seven members, each to serve until  two  years  after  the
 effective date of this act.
   (b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be
 appointed  by the governor; two members shall be appointed by the tempo-
 rary president of the senate; two members  shall  be  appointed  by  the
 speaker  of  the  assembly;  and  two  members shall be appointed by the
 commissioner of health. Appointments shall be made within sixty days  of
 the  effective  date  of  this act. Vacancies in the task force shall be
 filled in the same manner provided for original appointments.
   (2) All appointees shall  have  expertise  in  fields  or  disciplines
 related to mental health and knowledge related to LGBTQ+ youth and young
 adults.  All  appointments  shall  be  coordinated  to ensure geographic
 representation from the entire state.
   (3) The task force shall be chaired by the governor's  appointee.  The
 task  force  shall  elect a vice-chair and other necessary officers from
 among all appointed members.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00465-02-3
 S. 1250                             2
              

 
   (4) A majority of the members  of  the  task  force  in  office  shall
 constitute  a  quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of
 any power or function of the task force. An act, determination or  deci-
 sion  of  the  majority  of the members present during the presence of a
 quorum  shall  be  held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
 task force.
   (5) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the  call  of  the
 chair.  Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members  of  the
 task force.
   (6)  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses  incurred  in
 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
   (c) The task force shall:
   (1)  study  current  mental  health  practices  and suicide prevention
 efforts;
   (2) recommend mental health practices and suicide  prevention  efforts
 to increase effectiveness across the state; and
   (3)  determine  potential  reasons for the high number of LGBTQ+ youth
 and young adult suicides.
   (d) The task force may establish such advisory committees as it  deems
 appropriate  on  matters  relating to the task force's functions, powers
 and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
 may be composed of task force  members  as  well  as  other  individuals
 selected  by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific to
 the charge of such committees.
   (e) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
 surveys, or analyses relating to the task force's powers and  duties  be
 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
 ty.  All  state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities
 shall provide information and advice in a timely  manner  and  otherwise
 assist the task force with its work.
   (f)  The  task  force  shall submit a request for any appropriation as
 shall be necessary to enable the task force to perform its functions and
 duties to the governor, director of the division of budget,  and  chair-
 persons  of the senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means
 committee.
   (g) The task force may hold public hearings, take testimony  and  make
 investigations at such places as it deems necessary.
   (h) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
 the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
 ities  already  undertaken  by  the  task force, not later than thirteen
 months after the effective date of this act, and a final report  of  its
 findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already undertaken
 by  the task force, not later than 22 months after the effective date of
 this act 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.