Section 355-E - New York state firearm violence research institute1. Institute formation and goals. Subject to amounts available by appropriation, the New York state firearm violence research institute, hereinafter the "institute", is hereby created within the state university of New York. The purposes of the institute shall include:(a) advising the governor, governmental agencies, and the legislature on matters relating to firearm violence in New York state;(b) fostering, pursuing and sponsoring collaborative firearm violence research;(c) increasing understanding by establishing and reporting on what is known and what is not known about firearm violence of the state;(d) identifying priority needs for firearm violence research and inventory work within New York that currently are not receiving adequate attention, and identifying public or private entities that are best situated to address such needs, thereby leading to better coordination of firearm violence research efforts in the state;(e) promoting awareness of existing and new sources of firearm violence information and firearm violence while educating elected officials, governmental agencies, and the general public on firearm violence issues through such means as it may determine;(f) organizing and sponsoring meetings on firearm violence topics;(g) encouraging the establishment of networks of collaborating experts engaged in related aspects of firearm violence research;(h) raising sensitivity to firearm violence concerns among state and local government agencies, and serving as a forum for enhanced interagency information sharing and cooperation;(i) recommending priority activities for funding through the firearm violence research fund, created pursuant to section ninety-seven-j of the state finance law;(j) working on a continuing basis with policymakers in the legislature and state agencies to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative firearm violence prevention policies and programs;(k) recruiting and providing specialized training opportunities for new researchers, including experienced investigators in related fields who are beginning work on firearm violence, young investigators who have completed their education, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral students, and undergraduates; and(l) providing copies of their research publications to the legislature and to agencies supplying data used in the conduct of such research as soon as is practicable following publication.2. Research. The institute shall foster, pursue, and sponsor basic, translational, and transformative research, field studies, and all other such activities to research:(a) the nature of firearm violence, including individual and societal determinants of risk for involvement in firearm violence, whether as a victim or a perpetrator;(b) the individual, community, and societal consequences of firearm violence;(c) the prevention and treatment of firearm violence at the individual, community, and societal levels; (d) the effectiveness of existing laws and policies intended to reduce firearm violence, and efforts to promote the responsible ownership and use of firearms; and(e) other research as deemed by the institute to be aligned with its core mission.3. Education and information transfer programs. To the extent possible, the institute shall foster the collection, transfer, and application of firearm violence information in the state by: (a) fostering access, compatibility, interchange, and synthesis of data about firearm violence maintained by public entities, academic and research institutions, and private organizations;(b) employing advanced technology to coordinate for ease of use of the scattered firearm violence resources of the state; and(c) supporting the preparation and publication of interpretative works that draw upon firearm violence resources. 4. Quinquennial reports. The institute shall prepare and submit a report within one year of the effective date of this section and every five years thereafter to the governor and the legislature describing programs undertaken or sponsored by the institute, the status of knowledge regarding the state's firearm violence, and research needs related thereto. 5. Executive committee. The institute shall be guided by an executive committee. Members of the committee shall be from varying backgrounds with members selected from the scientific community, academic community, as well as from government service. Such committee shall consist of ten members including the commissioner of education, the commissioner of criminal justice services, the commissioner of health, the chancellor of the state university of New York or their designees, two at large members appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, and two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly. Appointed members shall serve for a term of three years, provided that such members may be reappointed. The executive committee shall:(a) adopt policies, procedures, and criteria governing the programs and operations of the institute;(b) recommend to the governor and legislature appropriate actions to reduce firearm violence within the state;(c) develop and implement the research, education and information transfer programs of the institute;(d) identify and rate proposals for firearm violence research;(e) submit to the director of the budget, and the chairpersons of the senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means committee on the first day of October, two thousand twenty-one and on or before August first each year thereafter, a budget request for the expenditure of funds available from the firearm violence research fund, for the purposes established by section ninety-seven-j of the state finance law; and
(f) meet publicly at least twice a year. The committee shall widely disseminate notice of its meetings at least two weeks prior to each meeting. The commissioners on the executive committee and the chancellor of the state university of New York shall aid in such dissemination.6. Scientific working group. The institute shall appoint a scientific working group consisting of individuals having knowledge and expertise in firearm violence research which shall advise and make recommendations to the institute regarding its research and information programs.
7. Institute director. The institute shall have a director who shall be appointed by the executive committee and shall after appointment be an employee of the state university. The institute director shall serve at the pleasure of the executive committee. The institute director shall serve as chief administrative officer of the institute and provide the necessary support for the executive committee. 8. Compensation. The members of the executive committee and the scientific working group shall serve without additional compensation, but shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses from the firearm violence research fund established by section ninety-seven-j of the state finance law, provided however, members of the executive committee representing state agencies may receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses from their respective agencies. Members of the executive committee and scientific working group shall be considered state employees for the purposes of sections seventeen and nineteen of the public officers law.9. Memorandum of understanding. The state university of New York, the department of health, the department of motor vehicles, and the division of criminal justice services shall enter into a written memorandum of understanding to facilitate the appropriate implementation of the firearm violence research institute and the goals, responsibilities, and programs established by this section.Renumbered from 239-C and amended by New York Laws 2022, ch. 151, Sec. 1, eff. 2/6/2022.Added by New York Laws 2021, ch. 595, Sec. 1, eff. 2/6/2022.