S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1007
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. BROUK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing a state-
wide youth mental health advisory board
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and
declares that poor mental health outcomes for youth is a public health
crisis that poses a threat to the health, wellbeing, and quality of life
for youth now and in the future. The legislature acknowledges the need
for youth voice and youth leadership in advocating for themselves and
others regarding mental and behavioral needs. Amongst the shortage of
behavioral and mental specialists, lack of representation within margi-
nalized communities, and insufficient funding infrastructure and oppor-
tunities for appropriate school-based services, the legislature hereby
finds the importance in establishing a dedicated board to support youth
in their mental and behavioral needs by increasing youth participation
in state government. A dedicated board would provide advancement in
creating policies that aid in improving youth outcomes in an effort to
address and resolve the youth mental health crisis in New York.
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 19-E to read
as follows:
ARTICLE 19-E
NEW YORK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD
SECTION 461. NEW YORK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD.
462. ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP.
463. POWERS AND DUTIES.
464. REPORT.
§ 461. NEW YORK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED A NEW YORK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD (ADVISORY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02216-01-5
S. 1007 2
BOARD) TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE, CONFER AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
NEEDS AND CONCERNS RELATED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUTH NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE. THE NEW YORK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD SHALL FORMALLY
ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ISSUES ENUMERATED IN
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 462. ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP. 1. THERE SHALL BE AN OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE TO THE ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED BY THIS ARTICLE WHICH SHALL
BE COMPOSED OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND THE CHAIR
OF THE ASSEMBLY MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, OR THEIR DESIGNEES. THE OVER-
SIGHT COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE ADVI-
SORY BOARD AND OVERSEEING THEIR ACTIVITIES, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
2. THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF SEVENTY-TWO
MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
(A) SIXTY-TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE RACIAL, ETHNIC,
GEOGRAPHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS OF THE
STATE; AND
(B) TEN AT LARGE MEMBERS REPRESENTING NEW YORK CITY.
3. MEMBERS SHALL:
(A) BE AT LEAST SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE, BUT NO OLDER THAN TWENTY YEARS
OF AGE;
(B) BE ENROLLED IN AND ATTENDING A PUBLIC, ONLINE OR HOME-BASED EDUCA-
TIONAL PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE; AND
(C) HAVE RESIDED IN THIS STATE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR.
4. THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE ADVISORY
BOARD SHALL BE MADE BY THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. APPOINTMENTS OF YOUTH REPRE-
SENTATIVES SHALL BE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE OF YOUTHS FROM
VARIOUS RACIAL, ETHNIC, GEOGRAPHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND RELI-
GIOUS BACKGROUNDS. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MAKE A BEST POSSIBLE
EFFORT TO INCLUDE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS WHO ARE RECEIVING, OR
HAVE RECEIVED, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, OR HAVE SIBLINGS OR IMMEDIATE
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS. MEMBERS SHALL BE
APPOINTED FOR TERMS OF TWO YEARS. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE RESPON-
SIBLE FOR CREATING THE PROCESS TO FILL VACANCIES.
§ 463. POWERS AND DUTIES. 1. THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHALL DEVELOP
RULES, PROCEDURES, AND A LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD.
THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL MEET AS FREQUENTLY AS ITS BUSINESS MAY REQUIRE,
BUT NO LESS FREQUENTLY THAN FOUR TIMES PER YEAR. MEETINGS MAY BE HELD
VIRTUALLY, PROVIDED THAT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MAY PROVIDE FOR IN-PER-
SON MEETINGS AS THEY DETERMINE AS NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE. THE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY RELEVANT FEES AND EXPENSES
INCURRED WHEN ATTENDING IN-PERSON MEETINGS. THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(A) MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REGARDING:
(I) THE BETTERMENT OF MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF
YOUTH;
(II) INITIATIVES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND SUPPORTS;
(III) IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PROTECTIVE
FACTORS;
(IV) ADVANCEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS;
(V) ACCESS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES;
(VI) EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN SCHOOLS;
(VII) BULLYING PREVENTION;
(VIII) SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MISUSE IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH;
(IX) POVERTY IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH;
S. 1007 3
(X) IMPLICATIONS OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE;
(XI) INCLUSION OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS;
AND
(XII) ANY OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH THAT THE BOARD
CONSIDERS RELEVANT.
(B) PROPOSING IDEAS FOR LEGISLATION TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND
COMMENTING ON PENDING LEGISLATION DEALING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH.
(C) WORKING WITH ANY EXISTING AND APPROPRIATE LOCAL, STATE, OR
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS, INCLUDING YOUTH GROUPS, TO COLLECT
AND ANALYZE INFORMATION ON ISSUES RELATED TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.
(D) AT THE DISCRETION OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, PROVIDING TESTIMONY
TO ANY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, TASK FORCES, OR STATE AGEN-
CIES AND DEPARTMENTS, AS APPROPRIATE.
(E) SETTING PRIORITIES AND ESTABLISHING ANY SUBCOMMITTEES THAT MAY BE
NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD.
2. THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION, MAY CONTRACT
WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBERS TO
ASSIST THE ADVISORY BOARD AND FACILITATE ITS POWERS AND DUTIES.
§ 464. REPORT. THE ADVISORY BOARD, IN COOPERATION WITH THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT A JOINT REPORT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY MENTAL HEALTH
COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, FINDINGS AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT SHALL
INDICATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY INITIATIVES
DEVELOPED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD OR OTHER APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.