S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  10042

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 10, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. McDonald) --
  read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health

AN  ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the prescription
  of antidepressant and antianxiety medications which have an  increased
  risk of suicidal behavior

  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
7.45 to read as follows:
S 7.45 ANTIDEPRESSANT AND ANTIANXIETY MEDICATIONS; SUICIDE RISK.
  (A)  WHEN  A  PATIENT RECEIVES A PRESCRIPTION FOR AN ANTIDEPRESSANT OR
ANTIANXIETY MEDICATION IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING, AND THE MEDICATION  HAS
AN INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDALITY, THE OFFICE SHALL IDENTIFY SUCH MEDICA-
TIONS  AND SHALL REQUIRE PHARMACISTS IN THE COURSE OF CONSULTATION, UPON
THE FIRST TIME DISPENSING OF THE MEDICATION TO THE PATIENT,  TO  PROVIDE
THE FOLLOWING:
  (1)  THE TOLL-FREE SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE TELEPHONE NUMBER ESTAB-
LISHED BY THE OFFICE;
  (2) THE SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE WEBSITE  INTERNET  ADDRESS  ESTAB-
LISHED BY THE OFFICE; AND
  (3)  A  PAMPHLET  PUBLISHED  BY  THE OFFICE SETTING FORTH ALL RELEVANT
INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE  AND  SUICIDAL  SIDE
EFFECTS  ASSOCIATED  WITH THE MEDICATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
INFORMATION  SETTING  FORTH  THE  WARNING  SIGNS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  SUCH
SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE OFFICE DEEMS RELEVANT.
  (B)  ANY CONSULTATION REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITH
A PERSON UNDER SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE SHALL REQUIRE  THAT  A  PARENT  OR
LEGAL GUARDIAN OF SUCH PERSON BE IN ATTENDANCE DURING SUCH CONSULTATION.
  (C)  NO  MEDICATION DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL
BE DISPENSED, DISPERSED OR OTHERWISE GIVEN TO A PERSON  UNDER  SEVENTEEN
YEARS  OF  AGE  UNLESS  A  PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF SUCH PERSON IS IN
ATTENDANCE.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14193-06-4

              

A. 10042                            2

  (D) THE OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE ANY RULES  AND
REGULATIONS  AND PREPARE PAMPHLETS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided, however, that  effective  immediately,  the
addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date  is  authorized
to be made and completed on or before such date.