S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8163
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 1, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  public  and
   private  colleges and universities to provide all incoming and current
   students with information about depression and suicide prevention  and
   resources available to them on campus
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative intent.    The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
 declares  that there is a need to address the growing number of students
 at the collegiate level who are  suffering  from  psychiatric  stressors
 that  may  lead to suicide. The legislature further recognizes that such
 psychiatric stressors also contribute to difficulties  in  learning  and
 success  on  the collegiate level. Early detection and identification of
 at-risk individuals may not only prevent suicide,  but  may  also  allow
 such  other  students  suffering  from  psychiatric stressors to get the
 support needed to be successful in their academic endeavors. The support
 necessary to achieve these goals may often require collaboration between
 college officials and parents and/or guardians in such a manner as to be
 consistent with the needs of each student.
   Therefore, to achieve the above-stated goals, the  legislature  hereby
 finds and declares that every college within the state shall establish a
 suicide prevention program.
   §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 6438-a to
 read as follows:
   § 6438-A. THE COLLEGIATE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM. 1.  THE  TRUSTEES
 OR  GOVERNING BOARD OF EACH COLLEGE SHALL INFORM INCOMING STUDENTS ABOUT
 SUICIDE PREVENTION MEASURES THROUGH PROGRAMS  WHICH  MAY  INCLUDE  WORK-
 SHOPS,  SEMINARS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND FILM PRESENTATIONS, IN ORDER TO
 DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT PRESSURES AND MATTERS  THAT  MAY  PLACE  A
 PERSON  AT  RISK  OF SUICIDE, PROMOTE DISCUSSION, ENCOURAGE REPORTING OF
 PERSONS AT RISK OF SUICIDE, AND FACILITATE PREVENTION OF SUCH INCIDENTS.
 SUCH INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   A. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS,
              

 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03206-01-7

 A. 8163                             2
 
   B. HOW TO IDENTIFY AN AT RISK PERSON,
   C.  THE PROCEDURES IN EFFECT AT THE COLLEGE FOR DEALING WITH ATTEMPTED
 SUICIDE,
   D. THE AVAILABILITY OF  COUNSELING  AND  OTHER  SUPPORT  SERVICES  FOR
 PERSONS AT RISK AND THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE,
   E.  THE  NATURE  OF  AND  COMMON  CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO SUICIDE ON
 COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND
   F. THE METHODS THE COLLEGE EMPLOYS TO SUPPORT AT RISK STUDENTS.
   2. PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  EACH COLLEGE SHALL FILE A REPORT ANNUALLY ON ITS COMPLIANCE OF
 SUCH PROGRAM WITH THE COMMISSIONER.
   3. IF THE TRUSTEES OR OTHER GOVERNING BOARD OF A COLLEGE FAILS TO FILE
 THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION  SUCH
 COLLEGE  SHALL  NOT  BE  ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ANY STATE AID OR ASSISTANCE
 UNTIL SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE DULY FILED.
   4. A. THE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF  EACH  COLLEGE,
 EXCEPT  THOSE INDEPENDENT COLLEGES INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE STATE AID UNDER
 SECTION SIXTY-FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS TITLE, WHICH MAINTAINS  A  CAMPUS
 AND  IS  CHARTERED  BY THE REGENTS OR INCORPORATED BY SPECIAL ACT OF THE
 LEGISLATURE SHALL APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH.
   B. SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF A MINIMUM OF SIX MEMBERS, ONE INDI-
 VIDUAL SHALL BE A PROFESSIONAL IN THE AREA OF MENTAL  HEALTH,  AT  LEAST
 ONE  MEMBER  SHALL  BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CAMPUS BASED MEDICAL FACILITY,
 TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED FROM A LIST OF  STUDENTS
 THAT  ARE  PARTICIPANTS  IN  THE STUDENT GOVERNANCE ORGANIZATION ON SUCH
 CAMPUS, AND AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  FROM  A  LIST  OF
 FACULTY  MEMBERS.  ALL  APPOINTMENTS  SHALL  BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OR
 CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE COLLEGE.
   C. THE COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW CURRENT CAMPUS  MENTAL  HEALTH  POLICIES
 AND  PROCEDURES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT. IT SHALL
 SPECIFICALLY REVIEW CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES  (1)  FOR  EDUCATING
 THE  CAMPUS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND
 THOSE PERSONS WHO ADVISE OR  SUPERVISE  STUDENTS,  ABOUT  MENTAL  HEALTH
 ISSUES  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, (2) FOR EDUCATING
 THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SUICIDE  PREVENTION,
 (3)  FOR  REPORTING  PERSONS IN CRISIS AND DEALING WITH PERSONS IN NEED,
 (4) FOR REFERRING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS  TO  APPROPRIATE  PROFESSIONALS,
 (5) FOR COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS, AND (6) FOR RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES FROM
 CONCERNED PERSONS.
   D. THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT, IN WRITING, TO THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR
 CHIEF  ADMINISTRATIVE  OFFICER  ON  ITS  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AT
 LEAST ONCE EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, AND SUCH REPORT SHALL BE  AVAILABLE  UPON
 REQUEST.
   5. ANY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS EMPLOYED BY, OR AFFILIATED WITH
 THE  COLLEGE, AND WHO THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS IN A POSITION TO IDEN-
 TIFY A STUDENT WHO  IS  POTENTIALLY  AT  RISK  FOR  SUICIDE,  IS  HEREBY
 REQUIRED  TO REPORT SUCH BELIEF TO THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMIN-
 ISTRATIVE OFFICER. THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
 OF THE COLLEGE MAY, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
 NOTIFY THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF SUCH STUDENT AS  TO  THE  CONCERN  OF
 SUCH STUDENT'S MENTAL WELL BEING.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that the  commis-
 sioner  of  education  is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and
 regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act  on  its
 effective date on or before such date.