A 9645 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to establishing a veteran suicide mortality review board

Summary

Establishes a 13 member veteran suicide mortality review board to serve as the statewide entity responsible for the multidisciplinary review of suicide deaths among veterans by identifying trends and systemic factors contributing to veteran suicide; assessing gaps in services, access to care, and institutional practices; developing evidence-based recommendations for prevention and policy improvement; and promoting collaboration among relevant state, local, and federal agencies.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Jun 1, 2026

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What changed between versions

A9645 → A9645A · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from the Public Health Law to the Mental Hygiene Law and renumbered to Article 79-A. The most significant change is the expansion of the board's membership from a mix of appointed officials and designees to a fixed group of at least thirteen members appointed directly by the Governor, including a new representative from local mental hygiene directors. The board's duties were also expanded to include specific reviews of forms from the Department of Veterans' Services and a clearer mandate to assess preventability in each case.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from being housed under the Public Health Law to the Mental Hygiene Law, and the board's composition was significantly expanded and centralized under Governor appointment.

SCOPE

The bill was moved from the Public Health Law to the Mental Hygiene Law, changing the legal article number from 38-A to 79-A.

REQUIREMENT

Board membership was changed from a mix of officials and designees to a fixed slate of at least thirteen members appointed directly by the Governor.

A new member category was added: a representative from the state conference of local mental hygiene directors.

The chair of the board was changed from the Commissioner of Health to the Commissioner of Mental Health.

New provisions were added requiring the board to review specific forms from the Department of Veterans' Services and explicitly assess the preventability of each suicide death.

New rules were established regarding board meetings, quorums, member vacancies, indemnification, and expense reimbursement.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 1, 2026

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 9645A

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

lower

1 primary · 28 co-sponsors