The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1716
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 11, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE, VANEL, J. RIVERA, EPSTEIN, DARLING,
   SIMON,  ZEBROWSKI,  WILLIAMS,  SAYEGH,  FRONTUS,  SCHMITT,  McDONOUGH,
   JOYNER,  CRUZ,  STECK,  RAMOS,  FALL, GLICK, FERNANDEZ, TAYLOR, REYES,
   WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT,  M. MILLER  --
   read once and referred 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD04849-01-1

 A. 1716                             2
 
   (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.
   (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.