Directs the New York state bridge authority to provide a report by July 1, 2027, outlining their efforts and progress on decreasing and deterring suicide attempts on authority bridges.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4821A
SPONSOR: Kay TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to directing the New York state bridge authority to
provide a report outlining their efforts and progress on decreasing and
deterring suicide attempts on authority bridges; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE:
Requires the New York State Bridge Authority to provide the legislature
information on their progress of their efforts to deter suicide attempts
across their bridges.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Requires the New York State Bridge Authority to deliver a
report to the Legislature and Governor on July 1, 2027. The report shall
include the actions taken by the authority to decrease and deter suicide
attempts on authority bridges, including minimum information that
includes the progress made on recommendations to a previous report on
suicide prevention and education. The report shall further include any
policy recommendations or actions the authority may need from the legis-
lature to further their purpose.
Section 2 establishes the effective date and repeal of the provisions.
JUSTIFICATION:
Suicide is a public health problem, and the second leading cause of
death in the United States for young people ages ten to thirty four.
Suicide is preventable- increased investment in suicide prevention,
education, and research will help prevent the untimely deaths of thou-
sands of Americans each year. According to the American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention, bridges and other publicly accessible areas of
significant height pose a risk for suicide attempts. Barrier installa-
tion is a proven method of increasing this crucial time for individuals
at risk for suicide by jumping. These barriers act as a delay or deter-
rent to an individual at risk, providing more time to get through the
intense, often brief, moment of suicide crisis.
This legislation seeks to inform the legislature of the progress the
Bridge Authority has made on installing climb deterrent fencing or other
methods to deter suicide attempts and if further legislative actions is
required to help the Authority accomplish this goal.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: S7310/A8273 - Died in Transportation
2023-2024: S2708/A9248a - Died in Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
None to the state.
