The New York State Senate

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

                                  6315

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 4, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to establish an LGBT youth and  young  adult  suicide  prevention
  task  force; and provides 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.  LGBT youth and young adult suicide prevention task force.
(a) There is hereby created the lesbian, gay, bisexual  and  transgender
(LGBT)  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  LGBT  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 LGBT 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.
  (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-

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

                                                           LBD11827-02-9

S. 6315                             2

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 LGBT 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 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.