What's happening
This bill requires New York teachers to complete continuing education on mental health, eating disorders, and behavioral health issues.
Why it matters
Expands teacher training to cover a wide range of mental health topics. , including eating disorders, behavioral health disorders, crisis de-escalation, and early identification of mental illness—helping teachers respond to a broader spectrum of student needs.
Mandates the use of evidence-based programs (like Mental Health First Aid). , ensuring that the training teachers receive is grounded in proven methods rather than ad-hoc or untested approaches.
Requires teachers to complete mental health-related education at least twice every five years. , integrating this content into their ongoing professional development and keeping their knowledge up to date with evolving best practices.
Aims to improve the overall learning environment and student wellbeing. by equipping educators with skills not only for crisis situations but also for proactive support, potentially reducing stigma and increasing early intervention for mental health issues in schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Teacher Mental Health Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.146
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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 Mental Health Training
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3550
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2017
Introduced by Sens. HAMILTON, CARLUCCI, COMRIE, ORTT, PARKER, PERSAUD -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
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
S. 3550 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
Relates to mandatory continuing education for teachers relating to mental health issues.
Existing law
New
Justification
Our youth spend more time in school than they do anywhere else except their own home. School is one of the best places for both educators and students to become increasingly aware of mental health, mental health problems and mental disorders. Thusly, making school one of the most efficient places to use in developing and delivering interventions that can improve youth mental health effectively and efficiently.
The Mental Health First Aid curriculum is unique in that it is aimed at nonprofessional audiences and specifically seeks to aid in reducing social distance, increase help-seeking and helping behaviors and provide strategies to assist an individual in crisis.
Professionals from the Offices of Mental Health, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, NYS Department of Health and State education department shall develop course materials/curriculum which shall be available to school districts.
Below are primary points that emphasize why the notion of a "first aider" approach is vital to the community.
*Mental health problems are common. *People with mental health problems often face negative attitudes and discrimination. *Many people are not well informed about mental health problems. *Professional help is not always on hand. *People often do not know how to respond. *People with mental health problems often do not seek help. * A continuing education curriculum would assist in educators responding to their students by; *Assessing for risk of suicide or harm *Learning to listen with a non-judgmental attitude *Sharing reassurance and information with knowledge and confidence *The correct way to encourage appropriate professional help *Persuade self-help and other support strategies
Legislative history
S. 6234 B of 2015-16 Legislative Session
Fiscal implications
TBD
Local fiscal implications
TBD
Effective date
This act shall take effect 1rst of January with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.