Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) is pleased to announce the New York State Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has voted to advance Bill A.9645-A. Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Buttenschon and introduced by Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-13), this legislation aims to formally codify and establish a 13-member Veteran Suicide Mortality Review Board to serve as New York State’s premier statewide entity responsible for the multidisciplinary review of suicide deaths among veterans.

Centralizing and expanding upon the State’s existing commitments to the prevention of veteran suicide, including participation in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Veteran Suicide, this legislation addresses a critical gap in New York State’s approach to this on-going crisis; a lack of statutory authority which has resulted in fragmented interagency coordination, inconsistent data review processes, and incomplete implementation. Under current law, relevant state agencies are not mandated to share information, participate in reviews, or align their efforts in a unified manner, undermining the State’s ability to conduct comprehensive reviews, identify systemic failures, and make effective policy recommendations. This legislative proposal (A.9645-A), seeks to establish the statutory structure necessary to implement existing state policy as intended through the codification and formalization of the 13-member board within the authority of the State Office of Mental Health, and would provide clear statutory direction mandating comprehensive interagency cooperation, data sharing, and coordinated reviews to ensure the State of New York can effectively identify systemic gaps in care, services, and transitions, and act on evidence based solutions.

“This is a public health crisis,” Buttenschon stated. “Every suicide is a tragedy, and with veterans in this State dying by suicide at rates nearly twice that of civilians, this is a crisis that demands our full attention and a robust statewide response. This board will bring together under one roof the best of our state’s medical, mental health, and veterans’ service experts to examine the root causes of veteran suicide among New Yorkers and give us the data and evidence driven tools we need to improve our statewide prevention efforts. Our veterans have already given so much in service to this state and our nation, we owe them no less than our strongest, most coordinated effort to wholeheartedly protect their lives and well-being.”

Key provisions of the new law include:

• Establishes a 13-member Veterans Suicide Mortality Review Board within the Office of Mental Health, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans’ Services, with members appointed by the Governor to serve 3-year terms.
• Mandates the board to conduct multidisciplinary case reviews of veteran suicide deaths, identify trends and systemic contributing factors, and to assess gaps in services, access to care, and institutional practices.
• Directs the board to develop evidence based recommendations for prevention and policy improvement, and to promote collaboration among relevant state, local, and federal agencies, including the U.S Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• Mandates the board must convene all members at minimum twice per year, and within 90 days of enactment.
• And requires the board to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Legislature, and relevant commissioners summarizing cases reviewed, statewide trends, systemic gaps, and actionable recommendations for policy and program improvement.

According to the U.S Department of Veterans’ Affairs, approximately 17 veterans die by suicide each day nationally, with more than 6,400 suicide deaths reported in 2022 alone. With nearly 800,000 veterans that call New York State home, a figure which represents one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, the need for a coordinated, statewide approach to prevention and intervention in this public health crisis is both urgent and undeniable. Through enhanced coordination, transparency, and a commitment to data driven solutions, this legislation will help ensure that the lessons learned from these devastating losses lead to meaningful, systemic change.

“This board is about research, accountability, and action,” said the Assemblywoman. “By providing clear legal authority and systematically reviewing these deaths, we can break down silos between agencies, identify what is working, where the state is falling-short, and identify where we must improve in order to meaningfully deliver the kind of coordinated, lasting preventative strategies our veterans deserve.”

The bill now advances for further consideration in the New York State Legislature, being referred to the Assembly Committee on Ways & Means, and rests on the Senate’s Active Calendar. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, with the board required to convene its first meeting within ninety days of the effective date.