Corning, N.Y., September 22--State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (R,C-Canisteo), and Steuben County Legislator Joe Tobia today renewed their call for Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation they have developed, sponsored, and strongly supported to establish a statewide Rural Suicide Prevention Council. 

The area legislators held a news conference on Tuesday at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning.

The legislation (S3610A/A8434) is sponsored by the group’s Finger Lakes colleagues, Senator Pam Helming (R-C, Canandaigua) and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles (D-Ithaca). With O’Mara as a co-sponsor, and Palmesano and Sempolinski strongly advocating for the bill, it steadily gained strong bipartisan support in the Legislature over the past several years and was approved unanimously by the Senate and Assembly during the closing days of this year’s legislative session.

Hochul vetoed similar legislation in 2024, citing fiscal concerns and stating her belief that existing state-level mental health programs and services already sufficiently address the issue. 

If signed into law by the governor once it’s delivered to her desk before the end of this year, the new law would establish a 15-member Rural Suicide Prevention Council to examine the epidemic of suicide in rural New York and develop a comprehensive plan to address it. The Council would be comprised of the commissioners of the state departments of Agriculture, Health, and Mental Health, and 12 other members appointed by legislative leaders.

O’Mara, Helming, Palmesano, and Sempolinski have long championed the initiative to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in rural communities and regions like those they represent across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. 

Tobia, a resident of Corning, has been the driving force behind the legislation’s advancement over the past five years after he and his wife, Elisa, tragically lost their son Matt to suicide in August 2021. 

In a joint statement, O’Mara, Palmesano, and Sempolinski said, “We remain proud to join Legislator Tobia to once again renew our call to Governor Hochul to finally sign this legislation into law. The creation of a state-level Rural Suicide Prevention Council could make the difference in confronting this challenge and crisis. It would serve as a desperately needed lifeline for addressing the epidemic of rural suicide. Governor Hochul should join the Legislature this year in recognizing the need and the potential effectiveness of this strategy. We have stood proudly with Joe throughout this effort. His perseverance has been heartfelt, steadfast, and tireless since the loss of his son, Matt. He has remained determined to do anything and everything he can to try to ensure that no other family has to face this tragedy alone, and we have welcomed the opportunity to help build bipartisan, strong support within the State Legislature. Now we need to convince Governor Hochul that this is the right thing to do. Rural suicide prevention deserves this attention and action. It’s time for the governor to act this year.”  

Steuben County Legislator Joseph Tobia said, “It’s time we eliminate the barriers that have denied so many people the care and services they so badly need before it’s too late. When someone who is suffering cries out for help, we MUST make sure they get it! The creation of the Rural Suicide Prevention Council will do that and much more! This is a critical piece of legislation that has the unanimous support of the State Legislature, and I strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law.”

A 2023 report found that the suicide rate in rural New York was twice that of urban New York and is increasing at a significantly greater rate. According to the report, the suicide rate increased 17% in rural areas of the state between 2019 and 2020.