S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8488
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 5, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  FERNANDEZ, ADDABBO, MARTINEZ, RAMOS, WEBB -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee on Mental Health
 
 AN ACT to establish a Latina suicide prevention task force; and provides
   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. Latina suicide prevention task force. (a) There  is  hereby
 created  the  Latina  suicide prevention task force to examine, evaluate
 and determine how to improve mental health and  suicide  prevention  for
 Latina  New  York  residents, 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; one member shall be appointed by  the  tempo-
 rary  president  of  the  senate;  one  member shall be appointed by the
 minority leader of the senate; one member  shall  be  appointed  by  the
 speaker  of  the assembly; one member shall be appointed by the minority
 leader of the assembly; and  two  members  shall  be  appointed  by  the
 commissioner  of  mental 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 suicide prevention  services  and  support  and
 knowledge  related  to  the  Latina community. 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 by a majority vote and other neces-
 sary officers from among all appointed members.
   (4) 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09580-01-3
 S. 8488                             2
              

 
   (5)  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  Latina
 suicides.
   (d) The task force may  establish  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; provided, however, any information
 obtained pursuant to this subdivision shall  be  kept  confidential  and
 shall  only  be used by members of the task force in the course of their
 tasks and duties as a task force member.
   (f) The task force shall provide a preliminary report to the  governor
 and  the  legislature  of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and
 activities 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 twenty-two 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.