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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 5
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 7611a
- Amend (t) and recommit to higher education
- Reported and committed to higher 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.
Requires the commissioner of education to promulgate regulations to include school mental health practitioners in a certificate valid for pupil personnel services
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the commissioner to issue regulations to include school mental health practitioners in a certificate valid for pupil personnel services
Purpose
This bill creates a school certificate title for school mental health practitioners including licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychoanalysts and licensed creative arts therapists to allow schools districts to hire these licensed mental health professionals.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends of the Education Law directing the Commissioner to establish school certificate titles for school mental health practitioners licensed under Article 163 as a licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage or family therapist, licensed psychoanalyst or licensed creative arts therapist.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
There is an unmet need for mental health services in New York schools. Educators recognize that, for some, access to mental health services increases a student's likelihood to remain in school and achieve academically. Schools report an increasing need for mental health services but, without a school certificate title, school districts are prohibited from employing a number of licensed mental health professionals who could help students. This bill would give schools access to more mental health professionals who, in turn, could provide more mental health services in the schools.
This bill would expand schools' access to licensed mental health professionals. Mental health practitioners have been licensed in New York State since 2005 to provide counseling and psychotherapy. School certification titles, however, were never updated to allow school districts to hire licensed mental health professionals. This bill would create the titles and provide school districts with the authority to hire mental health professionals as appropriate for their school's population. It does not, however, create a license or affect licensure requirements for mental health professionals.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law; provided, however, that effective immediately the department is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other measure necessary to implement this act on or before the effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.