BILL NUMBER: S3610A Revised 7/22/2026
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 to examine circumstances unique to rural New York State and
provide informed recommendations to address those circumstances.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the mental hygiene law by adding a new
section 7.49 to establish a rural suicide prevention council. Paragraph
(a) provides that the council shall be established by the office of
mental health and lists the commissioners of mental health, health, and
agriculture and markets or their designees as members of the council
along with twelve additional members, four of whom will be appointed by
the Governor, three of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly, 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
Senate.
Paragraph (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.
Paragraph (c) describes the qualifications for council members.
Paragraph (d) provides the duties of the council to include but not be
limited to:
1. identifying barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and
prevention services, as well as the causes and conditions related to
death by suicide or suicide attempts in rural parts of the state;
2. determine if there is sufficient capacity for peer supports and
mental health crisis services;
3. assess the use of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline in rural areas
of the state and identify strategies to increase utilization;
4. identifying vulnerable populations in rural areas and the prevalence
of suicide among such populations including, but not limited to, farmers
and agricultural workers;
5. identifying policies, practices, resources, services, and potential
legislation that aim to reduce death by suicide and suicide attempts and
acknowledge the demographic and cultural differences in rural communi-
ties;
6. offering recommendations on policies and procedures to improve the
coordination of services and resources among agencies involved in the
delivery of mental health, substance use, or suicide prevention
services; and
7. making recommendations on funding initiatives to increase access to
mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention services in rural
areas and facilitate the use of innovative intervention strategies
specific to individuals residing in rural areas. Paragraph (e) provides
that the council will meet no less than three times annually or as
deemed necessary by the chair of the council or the commissioner.
Paragraph (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. The section includes a requirement for
the council to provide a preliminary 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:
2024: S.3587A passed both houses; vetoed Memo 55
2023: S.3587 passed Senate; died in Assembly
2022: S.5453A referred to Mental Health/A.7977 referred to Mental Health
2021: S.5453A 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 and shall expire 2 years after such effective date.