BILL NUMBER: S3587A
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the
rural suicide prevention council; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the growing rate of suicide in
rural New York-through the establishment of a rural suicide prevention
council.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Creates a new section 7.49 of Mental Hygiene Law which:
(a) Establishes a council on rural suicide prevention which will include
the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene or his or her designee, the Commis-
sioner of Health or his or her designee, and the Commissioner of Agri-
culture and Markets or his or her designee. The council will also
include 12 additional members, four of whom will be appointed by the
Governor, three of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the Assem-
bly, three of whom will be appointed by the Temporary President of the
Senate, one of whom will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Assembly and one of whom will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Seante.
(b) Provides that the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene shall appoint the
chair of the council and vacancies will be filled by the appropriate
appointing authority.
(c) Outlines possible qualifications for council members.
(d) Outlines the duties of the council.
(e) Provides that the council will meet no less than three times annual-
ly or as deemed necessary by the chair of the council or the Commission-
er.
(f) Provides that council members will receive no compensation for their
services but allows for compensation for expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties. Requires that the council provide a prelim-
inary report of their findings within nine months of the effective date
and a final report of their findings within eighteen months of the
effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control released data from 2001-2005
which showed that rural counties had higher rates of suicide than metro-
politan counties. Presently, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death
among Americans with over half a million suicides occurring during the
survey period.
The rise in suicide rates is not attributable to one factor but instead
to a number of factors. Increasing rural suicide may be the result of
economic insecurity, social isolation, a dearth of mental health profes-
sionals, higher levels of alcohol and substance abuse, weakened social
support, and many other factors.
The Rural Suicide Prevention Council envisioned in this legislation
would be tasked with examining the epidemic of suicide in rural New York
and then creating a comprehensive plan to address the problem. Address-
ing the root problems of the mental health crisis in our state is a
critical first step to helping the state provide needed services to our
residents.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: S3587 passed the Senate; died in the Assembly
2022: S.5453-A referred to Mental Health/A.7977 referred to Mental
Health
2021: S.5453-A Passed Senate/A.7977 referred to Mental Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.