S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9645--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 21, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, WEPRIN, HEVESI, HYNDMAN, KASSAY, SANTA-
BARBARA, McDONALD, CONRAD, DINOWITZ, SIMON, SEAWRIGHT, ZACCARO, SCHIA-
VONI, JENSEN, SLATER, NOVAKHOV, DeSTEFANO, CHANG, GALLAHAN, K. BROWN,
RA, LEMONDES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
veteran suicide mortality review board
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 article
79-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 79-A
VETERAN SUICIDE MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD
SECTION 79.51 VETERAN SUICIDE MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD; ESTABLISHMENT AND
PURPOSE.
79.53 MEMBERSHIP.
79.55 POWERS AND DUTIES.
79.57 REPORTING.
79.59 STAFFING AND RESOURCES.
§ 79.51 VETERAN SUICIDE MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD; ESTABLISHMENT AND
PURPOSE.
1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES, A
VETERAN SUICIDE MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD, HEREINAFTER "THE BOARD".
2. THE BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY REVIEW OF
SUICIDE DEATHS AMONG VETERANS AND SHALL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING TASKS:
(A) IDENTIFY TRENDS AND SYSTEMIC FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VETERAN
SUICIDE;
(B) ASSESS GAPS IN SERVICES, ACCESS TO CARE, AND INSTITUTIONAL PRAC-
TICES;
(C) DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTION AND POLICY
IMPROVEMENT;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14433-04-6
A. 9645--A 2
(D) PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONG RELEVANT STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL
AGENCIES; AND
(E) IDENTIFY INITIATIVES OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD ENHANCE OR
BUILD UPON NEW YORK STATE'S PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL VETERAN SUICIDE
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE U.S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION/VA SUICIDE MORTALITY REVIEW FRAMEWORK AND THE GOVERNOR'S
CHALLENGE TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE.
3. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE THE TERM "VETERAN" SHALL HAVE THE SAME
MEANING AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TEN OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-
SEVEN OF THE COUNTY LAW.
§ 79.53 MEMBERSHIP.
1. THE BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF AT LEAST THIRTEEN MEMBERS APPOINTED
BY THE GOVERNOR INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
(A) THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
(B) THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH, OR THEIR DESIGNEE WHO SHALL BE
THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD;
(C) THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS' SERVICES, OR THEIR DESIGNEE;
(D) TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERS OR CORONERS;
(E) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE CONFERENCE OF LOCAL MENTAL
HYGIENE DIRECTORS ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE FORTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER;
(F) TWO LICENSED CLINICIANS EXPERIENCED IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE
PREVENTION;
(G) TWO PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN MORTALITY REVIEW OR
EPIDEMIOLOGY; AND
(H) UP TO THREE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WITH EXPERTISE IN VETERANS' ISSUES,
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, OR SUICIDE PREVENTION.
2. MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR THREE YEAR TERMS, AND MAY SERVE UNTIL A
SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.
3. A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD SHALL CONSTITUTE A
QUORUM.
4. WHEN ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD FAILS TO ATTEND THREE CONSECUTIVE
REGULAR MEETINGS, UNLESS SUCH ABSENCE IS FOR GOOD CAUSE, THAT MEMBERSHIP
MAY BE DEEMED VACANT FOR PURPOSES OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUCCESSOR.
5. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD SHALL BE HELD AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR BUT MAY
BE HELD MORE FREQUENTLY AS DEEMED NECESSARY, SUBJECT TO REQUEST OF THE
OFFICE.
6. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL BE INDEMNIFIED UNDER SECTION SEVENTEEN
OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
7. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR PARTIC-
IPATION ON THE BOARD BUT SHALL RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR ORDINARY
AND NECESSARY EXPENSES OF PARTICIPATION.
8. MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD SHALL NOT DISQUALIFY ANY PERSON FROM HOLD-
ING ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT.
§ 79.55 POWERS AND DUTIES.
1. THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:
(A) CASE REVIEW OF DEATHS BY SUICIDE OF INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS
VETERANS, INCLUDING THOSE RECENTLY SEPARATED FROM MILITARY SERVICE. IN
ADDITION TO ANY OTHER INFORMATION COLLECTED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,
THE BOARD SHALL REVIEW COMPLETED FORMS RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS' SERVICES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THIRTY-FIVE OF SECTION FOUR
OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW. THE BOARD SHALL ASSESS THE CAUSE OF
SUICIDE, FACTORS LEADING TO SUICIDE, AND THE PREVENTABILITY FOR EACH
SUICIDE DEATH REVIEWED.
(B) COORDINATION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS, INCLUDING U.S.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA), THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA), AND OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED IN
A. 9645--A 3
VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE
SUCH COOPERATION INCLUDING DATA SHARING AND ACCESS TO RELEVANT RECORDS,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO VA RECORDS, PROVIDED THAT THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL ENSURE THAT SUCH AGREEMENTS ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY
OF VETERAN INFORMATION CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW.
(C) ISSUE EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS,
POLICY, AND PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS.
2. THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUEST AND SHALL RECEIVE UPON REQUEST FROM
ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION, LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THERE-
OF OR ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY, SUCH INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO DEATH RECORDS, MEDICAL RECORDS, AUTOPSY REPORTS, TOXICOLOGY REPORTS,
HOSPITAL DISCHARGE RECORDS, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP THE
BOARD UNDER THIS SECTION TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND
DUTIES.
3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL RECEIVE AND MAY SOLICIT VOLUNTARY INFORMA-
TION, INCLUDING ORAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS, RELATING TO ANY VETERAN
SUICIDE DEATH OR SUICIDE ATTEMPT FROM ANY FAMILY MEMBER OR OTHER INTER-
ESTED PARTY, INCLUDING THE VETERAN IN A CASE OF SUICIDE ATTEMPT, RELAT-
ING TO ANY CASE THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE BOARD. ORAL STATEMENTS RECEIVED
UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE TRANSCRIBED OR SUMMARIZED IN WRITING. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL TRANSMIT SUCH INFORMATION TO THE BOARD.
4. BEFORE TRANSMITTING ANY INFORMATION TO THE BOARD, THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL REMOVE ALL PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF THE VETERAN,
HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER OR PRACTITIONERS, OR ANYONE ELSE INDIVIDUALLY
NAMED IN SUCH INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE HOSPITAL OR FACILITY THAT
TREATED THE VETERAN, IF APPLICABLE, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION, SUCH AS
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, THAT MAY INADVERTENTLY IDENTIFY THE VETERAN, PRAC-
TITIONER OR FACILITY. THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE TRANSMIT-
TING OF INFORMATION TO THE BOARD THAT IS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO ENABLE
THE BOARD TO PERFORM AN APPROPRIATE REVIEW UNDER THIS SECTION.
5. THE COMMISSIONER AND THE BOARD SHALL EACH KEEP CONFIDENTIAL ANY
INFORMATION COLLECTED OR RECEIVED UNDER THIS ARTICLE THAT INCLUDES
PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF THE VETERAN, HEALTH CARE PRACTI-
TIONER OR PRACTITIONERS OR ANYONE ELSE INDIVIDUALLY NAMED IN SUCH INFOR-
MATION, AS WELL AS THE HOSPITAL OR FACILITY THAT TREATED THE VETERAN, IF
APPLICABLE, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THAT
MAY INADVERTENTLY IDENTIFY THE VETERAN, PRACTITIONER OR FACILITY, AND
SHALL USE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED OR RECEIVED UNDER THIS SECTION SOLELY
FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE OF VETER-
ANS AND TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE. THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE
THE TRANSMITTING OF INFORMATION TO THE BOARD THAT IS REASONABLY NECES-
SARY TO ENABLE THE BOARD TO PERFORM AN APPROPRIATE REVIEW UNDER THIS
SECTION.
6. ALL RECORDS RECEIVED, MEETINGS CONDUCTED, REPORTS, EXCEPT THOSE
REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE ISSUED BY THE BOARD PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, AND
RECORDS MADE AND MAINTAINED BY THE BOARD, AND ALL BOOKS AND PAPERS
OBTAINED BY THE BOARD SHALL BE CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE MADE OPEN
OR AVAILABLE, INCLUDING UNDER ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW,
WITH ACCESS LIMITED ONLY TO BOARD MEMBERS AND THOSE AUTHORIZED IN WRIT-
ING BY THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE DISCOVERABLE OR
ADMISSIBLE AS EVIDENCE IN ANY ACTION IN ANY COURT OR BEFORE ANY OTHER
TRIBUNAL, BOARD, AGENCY OR PERSON.
§ 79.57 REPORTING.
A. 9645--A 4
1. NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER ITS FIRST MEETING AND EACH YEAR THER-
EAFTER, THE BOARD SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
LEGISLATURE, THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS' SERVICES
AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SUMMARIZING:
(A) THE BOARD'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF VETERAN SUICIDE
CASES REVIEWED;
(B) THE NUMBER OF APPARENT VETERAN SUICIDE DEATHS REPORTED BY CORON-
ERS, CORONER'S PHYSICIANS OR MEDICAL EXAMINERS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
TEN OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN OF THE COUNTY LAW;
(C) TRENDS IN VETERAN SUICIDES STATEWIDE, INCLUDING AT A MINIMUM THE
MOST COMMON METHODS OF SUICIDE;
(D) SYSTEMIC GAPS OR FAILURES CONTRIBUTING TO VETERAN SUICIDE DEATHS;
AND
(E) DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ABOUT VETERANS WHO DIE BY SUICIDE, INCLUD-
ING AGE, SEX, RACE OR ETHNICITY, COUNTY OF RESIDENCE AND TO THE EXTENT
RELEVANT AND PRACTICABLE, INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE AND MEDICAL
HISTORY, INCLUDING MILITARY DISCHARGE STATUS, TIME ELAPSED SINCE DATE OF
DISCHARGE OR RELEASE FROM MILITARY SERVICE AND DATE OF DEATH, SERVICE ON
FEDERAL OR STATE ACTIVE DUTY INCLUDING THE TIME AND PLACE OF SUCH
SERVICE, ELIGIBILITY FOR AND/OR USE OF VA HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND
PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS INCLUDING SERVICE-CONNECTED DISA-
BILITIES; AND
(F) ANY OTHER FINDINGS DEEMED RELEVANT BY THE BOARD, AS WELL AS THE
BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
OR BEST PRACTICES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREVENTION OF VETERAN SUICIDE.
2. THE REPORT SHALL PROTECT INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY, PRESENTING ONLY DE-I-
DENTIFIED OR AGGREGATED DATA.
3. THE REPORT SHALL ALSO BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITES OF
THE OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'
SERVICES.
§ 79.59 STAFFING AND RESOURCES.
THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, STAFFING, AND ANALYT-
ICAL CAPACITY NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES. THE BOARD
MAY ALSO UTILIZE EXISTING FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING, TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE, AND DATA SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THOSE PROVIDED BY U.S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETER-
ANS AFFAIRS PROGRAMS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. The veteran suicide mortality review board
established by section one of this act shall convene its first meeting
within ninety days of such effective date.