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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 3915a
- Amend (t) and recommit to education
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes instruction related to the prevention of suicide among youths as an integral part of health education
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Annette Robinson
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3915A
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to instruction related to the prevention of suicide as an integral part of health education
Purpose
Requires the Department of Education to develop or identify a suicide prevention among youths curriculum to be available for secondary school health education
Summary of provisions
Instruction regarding the prevention of suicide may be included in the health education provided for all secondary school pupils and shall be taught by teachers certified in health education.
Justification
More recent suicides in young children, which haven't been tallied nationally, include a 12-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., girl who hung herself last April; a 13-year-old New Orleans-area boy who shot himself in November 2007 and a 12-year-old Kansas City-area boy who killed himself in February 2007 and in Schenectady, NY three suicides in a matter of 3 months one in November 2008 and two in February 2009 one week within each other along with and one failed attempt.
By comparison, eight Illinois children 11 years old and younger committed suicide in the eight years between 2000 and 2007, DCFS said.
On Feb. 3, a 10-year-old boy hung himself in the toilet stall of his Evanston school, according to the Cook County medical examiner. A day later, an 11-year-old boy was found dead in Chatham, south of Springfield. On Feb. 18, a father found his 11-year-old daughter hanging from a clothing hook in a closet of their Chicago home.
Suicide is uncommon in children -- but not unheard of.
More than 200 U.S. children aged 10 through 14 killed themselves each year between 1999 and 2005, the latest data available from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A total of 270 boys and girls committed suicide in 2005, or 1.28 per 100,000 children in that 10 to 14 age range. Suicide is more common in boys; 202 of the deaths in 2005 were boys and 68 were girls. Incidence in this age range has fluctuated since 1999, with no clear upward trend.
Some children commit suicide with no warning signs. But experts say there are symptoms to look for that can signal a child is at risk. These include depression, discussion of suicidal thoughts, alcohol or drug abuse, frequently running away, and avoiding family and friends.
Legislative history
A.6775 of 2010
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.