What's happening
This bill establishes a task force to study and recommend improvements for suicide prevention among Black youth in New York.
Why it matters
Targets a significant health disparity. The bill focuses specifically on Black youth aged 5-18, acknowledging data that shows a disproportionate and rising rate of suicide within this demographic compared to others, and aims to address possible systemic causes.
Brings together diverse, expert perspectives. Task force members must have mental health and suicide prevention expertise relevant to the Black community and must represent different regions of New York, increasing the likelihood of well-rounded, geographically-informed recommendations.
Seeks actionable change, not just research. In addition to studying existing practices, the task force is mandated to recommend ways to improve effectiveness and provide legislative proposals, which could directly influence future state policy and resource allocation.
Prioritizes privacy and respectful inquiry. The bill requires that all personal information shared with the task force, especially data on individuals who have died by suicide, remain confidential, aiming to balance research needs with sensitivity to families and communities affected.
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Headline styles
Create Black Youth Suicide Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A6740B
- Amended on third reading 4467b
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to codes
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 4467a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
Show 7 earlier actions
- Referred to mental health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–3
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.300
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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 Black Youth Suicide Task Force
Vetoed · Sponsor Kimberly Jean-Pierre
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4467--B Cal. No. 300
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 12, 2019
Introduced by Sens. CARLUCCI, RIVERA, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and… Show allHide
Introduced by Sens. CARLUCCI, RIVERA, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading -- repassed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
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 Assembly, 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, 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, supports and know-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10558-06-9
S. 4467--B 2
ledge related to the Black 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 majority vote and other necessary 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.
(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 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 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to establish a Black youth suicide prevention task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira- tion thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation will create a Black suicide prevention task force to examine, evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide prevention for our New York's Black residents aged 5 through 18.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 establishes the Black suicide prevention task force to examine evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide prevention for New York's Black residents, consisting of seven members, each to serve until two years after the effective date of this act. 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 assem- bly; one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assem- bly; and two members shall be appointed by the commissioner of 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.
All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to mental health and knowledge related to the Black community. All appoint- ments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic representation from the entire state. The task force shall be chaired by the governor's appoint- ee. The task force shall elect a vice-chair and other necessary officers from among all appointed members.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an effective date that 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.
Justification
Suicide rates for Black children have doubled; we need a task force to find out why and to do something about it. According to a fifteen-year study done by Jeffrey A. Bridge (Ohio State University), and a published article in the Journal of American Medical Association concerning Age Related Disparity in Suicide Rates Among US Youths from 2001 to 2015, suicide rates of Black children aged 5 to 18 have nearly doubled. The Bridge study found that among children, ages 5 to 11, and young adoles- cents ages 12 to 14, those who took their own lives were more likely to be male, black and dealing with stressful relationships at home or with friends. Analyses revealed that the suicide rate among those younger than 13 years is approximately 2 times higher for Black children compared to White children, a finding observed in boys and girls.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.