NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2656
SPONSOR: Sayegh TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to creating a fund to
be used to research equipping certain bridges with suicide barriers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish a suicide barrier research fund to establish the feasibil-
ity of adding suicide barriers to new bridges or bridges being built to
replace existing infrastructure.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-ii to
establish the bridge suicide barrier fund which shall consist of all
monies appropriated to such a fund in the joint custody of the state
comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance. Monies in the
bridge suicide barrier fund be utilized for any project involving the
construction of a new bridge or the replacement of a bridge with a
history of suicide attempts.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
JUSTIFICATION:
According to a study published by The Lancet Psychiatric Journal, bridg-
es that are known as suicide hotspots saw a drop of 58 percent when they
added suicide barriers. In addition, most suicide attempts are impulsive
decisions; with barriers serving as an effective deterrent which can buy
first responders time to save potential victims. This legislation would
require funding to be appropriated to study the feasibility of adding
preventative measures on new or replacement bridges being built in New
York State. As New York State continues to revitalize its aging infras-
tructure, it's important that we take modern day challenges, such as the
mental health crisis, into consideration in all aspects of governance.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A8728-Referred to Ways and Means
2021-22: A3288-Referred to Ways and Means
2023-24: A72-Referred to Ways and Means
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall go into effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2656
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH, CRUZ, ROSENTHAL, SHIMSKY, STIRPE, RAGA,
SEAWRIGHT, BURDICK, DAVILA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to creating a fund to
be used to research equipping certain bridges with suicide barriers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section
2 99-ss to read as follows:
3 § 99-ss. Bridge suicide barrier fund. 1. There is hereby established
4 in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of
5 taxation and finance a bridge suicide barrier fund which shall consist
6 of all monies appropriated to such fund.
7 2. Monies in the bridge suicide barrier fund shall be utilized for
8 studying any project involving the construction of a new bridge or the
9 replacement of a bridge with a history of suicide attempts and how to
10 include in the new or replacement bridge a suicide barrier.
11 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02702-01-5
