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

                                  2373

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 22, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  public  and
  private  colleges and universities to provide all incoming and current
  students with information about depression and suicide prevention  and
  resources available to them on campus

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent.    The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that there is a need to address the growing number of students
at the collegiate level who are  suffering  from  psychiatric  stressors
that  may  lead to suicide. The legislature further recognizes that such
psychiatric stressors also contribute to difficulties  in  learning  and
success  on  the collegiate level. Early detection and identification of
at-risk individuals may not only prevent suicide,  but  may  also  allow
such  other  students  suffering  from  psychiatric stressors to get the
support needed to be successful in their academic endeavors. The support
necessary to achieve these goals may often require collaboration between
college officials and parents and/or guardians in such a manner as to be
consistent with the needs of each student.
  Therefore, to achieve the above-stated goals, the  legislature  hereby
finds and declares that every college within the state shall establish a
suicide prevention program.
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6439 to read
as follows:
  S 6439. THE COLLEGIATE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM. 1.  THE TRUSTEES OR
GOVERNING  BOARD  OF  EACH  COLLEGE SHALL INFORM INCOMING STUDENTS ABOUT
SUICIDE PREVENTION MEASURES THROUGH PROGRAMS  WHICH  MAY  INCLUDE  WORK-
SHOPS,  SEMINARS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND FILM PRESENTATIONS, IN ORDER TO
DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT PRESSURES AND MATTERS  THAT  MAY  PLACE  A
PERSON  AT  RISK  OF SUICIDE, PROMOTE DISCUSSION, ENCOURAGE REPORTING OF
PERSONS AT RISK OF SUICIDE, AND FACILITATE PREVENTION OF SUCH INCIDENTS.
SUCH INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  A. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS,

              

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00729-01-5

S. 2373                             2

  B. HOW TO IDENTIFY AN AT RISK PERSON,
  C.  THE PROCEDURES IN EFFECT AT THE COLLEGE FOR DEALING WITH ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE,
  D. THE AVAILABILITY OF  COUNSELING  AND  OTHER  SUPPORT  SERVICES  FOR
PERSONS AT RISK AND THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE,
  E.  THE  NATURE  OF  AND  COMMON  CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO SUICIDE ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND
  F. THE METHODS THE COLLEGE EMPLOYS TO SUPPORT AT RISK STUDENTS.
  2. PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION ONE  OF  THIS
SECTION,  EACH COLLEGE SHALL FILE A REPORT ANNUALLY ON ITS COMPLIANCE OF
SUCH PROGRAM WITH THE COMMISSIONER.
  3. IF THE TRUSTEES OR OTHER GOVERNING BOARD OF A COLLEGE FAILS TO FILE
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION  SUCH
COLLEGE  SHALL  NOT  BE  ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ANY STATE AID OR ASSISTANCE
UNTIL SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE DULY FILED.
  4. A. THE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF  EACH  COLLEGE,
EXCEPT  THOSE INDEPENDENT COLLEGES INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE STATE AID UNDER
SECTION SIXTY-FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS TITLE, WHICH MAINTAINS  A  CAMPUS
AND  IS  CHARTERED  BY THE REGENTS OR INCORPORATED BY SPECIAL ACT OF THE
LEGISLATURE SHALL APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH.
  B. SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF A MINIMUM OF SIX MEMBERS, ONE INDI-
VIDUAL SHALL BE A PROFESSIONAL IN THE AREA OF MENTAL  HEALTH,  AT  LEAST
ONE  MEMBER  SHALL  BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CAMPUS BASED MEDICAL FACILITY,
TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED FROM A LIST OF  STUDENTS
THAT  ARE  PARTICIPANTS  IN  THE STUDENT GOVERNANCE ORGANIZATION ON SUCH
CAMPUS, AND AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  FROM  A  LIST  OF
FACULTY  MEMBERS.  ALL  APPOINTMENTS  SHALL  BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OR
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE COLLEGE.
  C. THE COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW CURRENT CAMPUS  MENTAL  HEALTH  POLICIES
AND  PROCEDURES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT. IT SHALL
SPECIFICALLY REVIEW CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES  (1)  FOR  EDUCATING
THE  CAMPUS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND
THOSE PERSONS WHO ADVISE OR  SUPERVISE  STUDENTS,  ABOUT  MENTAL  HEALTH
ISSUES  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, (2) FOR EDUCATING
THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SUICIDE  PREVENTION,
(3)  FOR  REPORTING  PERSONS IN CRISIS AND DEALING WITH PERSONS IN NEED,
(4) FOR REFERRING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS  TO  APPROPRIATE  PROFESSIONALS,
(5) FOR COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS, AND (6) FOR RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES FROM
CONCERNED PERSONS.
  D. THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT, IN WRITING, TO THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR
CHIEF  ADMINISTRATIVE  OFFICER  ON  ITS  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AT
LEAST ONCE EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, AND SUCH REPORT SHALL BE  AVAILABLE  UPON
REQUEST.
  5. ANY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS EMPLOYED BY, OR AFFILIATED WITH
THE  COLLEGE, AND WHO THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS IN A POSITION TO IDEN-
TIFY A STUDENT WHO  IS  POTENTIALLY  AT  RISK  FOR  SUICIDE,  IS  HEREBY
REQUIRED  TO REPORT SUCH BELIEF TO THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMIN-
ISTRATIVE OFFICER. THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
OF THE COLLEGE MAY, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
NOTIFY THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF SUCH STUDENT AS  TO  THE  CONCERN  OF
SUCH STUDENT'S MENTAL WELL BEING.
  S  3.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that the  commis-
sioner  of  education  is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and
regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act  on  its
effective date on or before such date.