Governance
Chapter 770 of the Laws of 2021:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature is concerned with the
health, safety, and welfare of all returning veterans of the United
States armed forces to New York and the high rate of mental health prob-
lems and suicides of members of the United States armed forces.
§ 2. Veterans' suicide prevention temporary task force. (a) There is
hereby created the veterans' temporary suicide prevention task force to
examine, evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide
prevention for our veterans, consisting of nine members, each to serve
until May first, two thousand twenty-three.
(b)(1) Such members shall be appointed as follows: three members shall
be appointed by the governor; two members shall be appointed by the
temporary president of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the senate; two members shall be appointed by the
speaker of the assembly; and one member shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the assembly. Appointments shall be made within sixty days
of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the temporary task force
shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
(2) All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines
related to mental health and at least three members shall have worked
with members of the military or veterans community on a professional
basis. All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic repre-
sentation from the entire state.
(3) The temporary task force shall be chaired by the governor's
appointee. The temporary task force shall elect a vice-chair and other
necessary officers from among all appointed members.
(4) A majority of the members of the temporary task force then in
office shall constitute a quorum.
(5) The temporary task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call
of the chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings
may be called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members
of the task force.
(6) Members of the temporary task force shall receive no compensation
for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties in the work of the task
force.
(c) The temporary task force shall:
(1) study current mental health practices and suicide prevention
efforts of those individuals who have served on active military duty;
(2) recommend mental health practices and suicide prevention efforts
to increase effectiveness across the state for those individuals who
have served on active military duty;
(3) determine potential reasons for the number of veterans who have
committed suicide and how this may be addressed by the state of New
York;
(4) determine what role post traumatic stress disorder and military
sexual trauma may have contributed to the number of veterans suicides in
the state of New York;
(d) work with the New York state suicide prevention task force and the
New York state suicide prevention council; and
(e) make a preliminary report to the governor and the legislature of
its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already under-
taken by the temporary task force, not later than June 1, 2023, and a
final report of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
ities already undertaken by the temporary task force, not later than
June 30, 2024 and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals as
it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law and shall expire August 31, 2024 when upon such date
the provisions of this act shall be deemed to be repealed.
Contact Information
518-474-6114
Purpose and Reports
The Veterans' Suicide Prevention Temporary Task Force is established to comprehensively assess and enhance mental health services and suicide prevention strategies for veterans.
The Veterans' Suicide Prevention Temporary Task Force will work with the New York state suicide prevention task force and the New York state suicide prevention council; and
(e) make a preliminary report to the governor and the legislature of
its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already under-
taken by the temporary task force, not later than June 1, 2023, and a
final report of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activities already
undertaken by the temporary task force, not later than
June 30, 2024 and shall submit with its reports legislative proposals as
it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
Board Membership
Kelly Posner/ Veterans Suicide Prevention Task Force
Phone: 646-286-7439
Email: [email protected]
County: New York
Marianne Goodman/ Veterans Suicide Prevention Task Force
Phone: 646-245-7071
Email: [email protected]
County: Bronx
Compensation
Members of the Veterans' Suicide Prevention Temporary Task Force serve on a volunteer basis. They can, however, receive reimbursement from the State for approved expenses incurred in the commission of their duties (e.g., approved travel costs).
No fiscal expenses have been incurred this fiscal year as the Task Force has not yet met and none are expected to be incurred in the next fiscal year as these meetings are expected to be virtual.
Meeting Minutes and Agendas
This task force has not yet met. Future meeting minutes and agendas will be posted here.