What's happening
This bill requires teachers in New York to complete continuing education on mental health, eating disorders, and behavioral health issues.
Why it matters
Teachers will receive targeted training to help them recognize and address early signs of mental health issues, eating disorders, and behavioral health disorders in students, potentially allowing earlier intervention and support.
The bill requires the development of evidence-based training materials—including mental health first aid and de-escalation techniques—meaning teachers will be better equipped to safely handle crises in the classroom.
By including these topics in mandatory professional development, the law aims to create a more supportive learning environment, which could improve overall student well-being and academic success.
Inter-agency collaboration (between the Education Department, Health Department, and mental health agencies) ensures that the training reflects current best practices and is informed by public health expertise.
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Headline styles
Require Mental Health Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- 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.
Require Teacher Mental Health Training
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4004
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO, SEPULVEDA, RICHARDSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the education law, in relation to mandatory continuing education for teachers relating to mental health issues
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 7.23 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (d) to read as follows:
(d) The commissioner in consultation with the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the department of health and with the commissioner of the department of education, shall develop course materials to be offered as part of the required continuing teacher and leader education requirements pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision two of section three thousand six-a of the education law. Such training shall include, but not be limited to:
1. continuing education courses;
2. programs and activities related to mental health;
3. eating disorders;
4. behavioral health disorders;
5. best practices for improving the overall learning environment;
6. safe de-escalation of crisis situations;
7. identifying signs and symptoms, including early stages of mental illness and behavioral health issues; and
8. the use of evidence based training programs including, but not limited to, mental health first aid or core elements of such programs to the extent practicable.
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 3006-a of the education law, as added by section 2 of subpart C of part EE of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00728-02-7
A. 4004 2
a. During each five-year registration period beginning on or after July first, two thousand sixteen, an applicant for registration shall successfully complete a minimum of one hundred hours of continuing teacher and leader education, as defined by the commissioner. Such continuing teacher and leader education shall include, at least twice during the five-year registration period, but not be limited to continuing education courses, programs and activities related to mental illness, eating disorders and behavioral health disorders as pursuant to paragraph d of section 7.23 of the mental hygiene law. The department shall issue rigorous standards for courses, programs, and activities[,] that shall qualify as continuing teacher and leader education pursuant to this section. For purposes of this section, a peer review teacher, or a principal acting as an independent trained evaluator, conducting a classroom observation as part of the teacher evaluation system pursuant to section three thousand twelve-d of this article may credit such time towards his or her continuing teacher and leader effectiveness requirements.
§ 3. The commissioner of education is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.