What's happening
This bill establishes a 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline in New York, providing dedicated access for mental health emergencies.
Why it matters
Creates a state-level infrastructure. for the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline, ensuring New Yorkers have a direct and easily accessible number during mental health crises, which may improve response times and save lives.
Aligns with national standards. by requiring the state hotline to follow protocols and functions established by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, helping ensure consistency and quality of support across state and federal resources.
Prepares for increased demand. by allowing the state to contract with organizations like 2-1-1 New York if more capacity is needed, which could help avoid call backlogs and ensure that more people in crisis receive timely help.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Launch 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to rules
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 988 Crisis Hotline
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Carmen E. Arroyo
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6833
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
November 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to establish the infrastructure and functions of a 9-8-8 hotline for a suicide prevention hotline in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of public service shall establish a suicide prevention hotline. The infrastructure and functions of the hotline shall (1) provide for 9-8-8 designation, allowing dedicated access for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or related mental health episodes and (2) follow those established in contracts through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
§ 2. Should additional or expanded capacity be deemed necessary by the department, the state shall consider contracting with 2-1-1 New York for the operation of such hotline as established by this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14144-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to establish the infrastructure and functions of a 9-8-8 hotline for a suicide prevention hotline in New York state
PURPOSE::
This bill would instruct the Public Service Commission to designate the tree digit phone number 9-8-8 for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline hotline in New York State.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1: The department of public service shall establish a suicide prevention hotline. The infrastructure and functions of the hotline shall (1) provide for 9-8-8 designation, allowing dedicated access for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or related mental health episodes and (2) follow those established in contracts through the 6 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Section 2: Should additional or expanded capacity be deemed necessary by the department, the state shall consider contracting with 2-1-1 New York for the operation of such hotline as established by this act.
Section 3: Effective Date
Justification
Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission presented to Congress the idea of creating a three digit, quick emergency phone number to serve as the connector to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline hotline. While Congress deliberates the FCC's recommendation, New York State has an infrastructure in place to introduce the 9-8-8 number so that those who need this life-saving service connect to it when it is most needed.
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in New York. http://chapterland.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2018/06/New-York- State-Facts.pdf This year alone, three people have committed suicide by jumping to their deaths from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York City; which has raised calls for building a suicide-prevention barrier along the bridge similar to the barrier going up along the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA. https://www.silive.com/news/2019/06/man-jumps-from-verrazzano-narrows- bridge-on-saturday-night-3rd-incident-in-a-month.html On average, one person die by suicide every five hours in New York State. http://chapterland.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2018/06/New-York- State-Facts.pdf
Most importantly, this bill will save lives.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New Legislation
Effective date
This act will take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.