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NY A08434

Bill

Status

Introduced

5/16/2025

Primary Sponsor

Anna Kelles

Click for details

Origin

Assembly

2025-2026 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Establishes a Rural Suicide Prevention Council within the Office of Mental Hygiene, comprising 15 members including commissioners (or designees) from mental hygiene, health, and agriculture and markets, plus 12 appointed members from the governor and legislative leaders

  • Council membership may include local mental hygiene directors, rural mental health professionals, public health researchers, farmer support organizations, certified peers, and rural community members with lived experience receiving mental health services

  • Duties include identifying barriers to mental health and substance use treatment in rural areas, assessing capacity for peer supports and crisis services, and evaluating 988 suicide and crisis lifeline utilization in rural communities

  • Council must identify vulnerable populations including farmers and agricultural workers, and recommend policies, funding initiatives, and legislation to reduce suicide deaths while acknowledging demographic and cultural differences in rural communities

  • Council must meet at least three times annually, submit a preliminary report within 9 months and a final report within 18 months, with the entire act expiring 2 years after the effective date

Legislative Description

Establishes the rural suicide prevention council to identify barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services and other 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 communities; makes related provisions.

Last Action

reported referred to ways and means

2/25/2026

Committee Referrals

Ways and Means2/25/2026
Mental Health5/16/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available