What's happening
This bill establishes a Latina suicide prevention task force to study and recommend improvements in mental health and suicide prevention efforts for Latina residents in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses a Critical Health Disparity. By focusing specifically on Latina residents, the task force acknowledges and seeks to address unique cultural, social, and systemic factors contributing to higher suicide rates among this population—issues that may be overlooked in broader mental health initiatives.
Ensures Representation and Expertise. The bill mandates that task force members possess both mental health/suicide prevention expertise and knowledge of the Latina community, and that appointments reflect geographic diversity. This could improve the relevance and effectiveness of recommendations.
Promotes Data-Driven, Confidential Research. The task force is empowered to request studies and data from state agencies, with requirements for confidentiality. This may lead to more informed, evidence-based policy proposals while safeguarding sensitive information about at-risk communities.
May Lead to Legislative Change. The task force is required to produce both preliminary and final reports with findings and legislative recommendations, potentially resulting in new laws or policies specifically tailored to reduce suicide risk among Latinas in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Latina Suicide Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
19 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 2761a
- Amend and recommit to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Latina Suicide Prevention Task Force
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Jessica Ramos
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2761--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. FERNANDEZ, ZEBROWSKI, REYES, GUNTHER, JAFFEE, SCHMITT, JEAN-PIERRE, ROMEO, COLTON, SIMON, GRIFFIN, ORTIZ, TAYLOR, PICHARDO, ARROYO, CRUZ, COOK, DeSTEFANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GIGLIO, RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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 Assembly, 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 temporary 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 necessary officers from among all appointed members.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03620-02-9
A. 2761--A 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;
(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 authority. 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.
§ 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.