S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10338
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 13, 2022
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Fernandez)
-- read once and referred 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.
(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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06658-01-1
A. 10338 2
(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.
ยง 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.