Bill > S08968

This bill establishes a Veteran Suicide Mortality Review Board within the state's public health law to address the critical issue of suicide among veterans. This board, which will be multidisciplinary, meaning it will include members from various fields and agencies, will be responsible for reviewing suicide deaths among veterans to identify patterns and systemic issues that contribute to these tragedies. Its purpose is to assess where services and access to care are lacking, develop evidence-based recommendations for preventing suicides and improving policies, and foster cooperation between state, local, and federal agencies involved in veteran support. The board will be composed of various officials, including the commissioners of health, mental health, and veterans' services, along with medical examiners, clinicians, public health experts, and a non-voting representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The board will have the power to review cases and access relevant records, with strict confidentiality protections for individual information, and will submit an annual report to the governor and legislature detailing trends, systemic failures, and recommendations for improvement. The Department of Health will provide administrative support, and the act will take effect six months after becoming law, with the board's first meeting to occur within ninety days of that date.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8968