S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8659
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 27, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  BROUK, HELMING, JACKSON, KENNEDY, MAY, SEPULVEDA,
   WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be commit-
   ted to the Committee on Mental Health
 
 AN ACT to establish a Black youth suicide  prevention  task  force;  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. Black youth suicide prevention task  force.  (a)  There  is
 hereby created the Black youth suicide prevention task force to examine,
 evaluate  and  determine  how  to  improve  mental  health  and  suicide
 prevention for Black New York residents aged 5 though 18 years, consist-
 ing 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, supports and know-
 ledge  related to the Black community. All appointments shall be coordi-
 nated 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 majority vote and other necessary
 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.
                                                            LBD02877-01-3
              

 S. 8659                             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 for Black youths aged 5 through 18 years;
   (2) recommend mental health practices and suicide  prevention  efforts
 for such age group to increase effectiveness across the state; and
   (3)  determine  potential  reasons  for the high number of Black youth
 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 and 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
 or records otherwise confidential  and  privileged  in  accordance  with
 state  or  federal  law  that are provided to the task force pursuant to
 this subdivision shall remain confidential as provided by such state  or
 federal  law and provided, further, that reports of the task force shall
 not identify the name  or  related  identifying  information  concerning
 individual persons who are deceased as a result of suicide.
   (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.