What's happening
This bill requires the commissioner to include mental health practitioners in certifications for pupil personnel services in schools.
Why it matters
Expands the pool of qualified mental health professionals in schools. , ensuring that students have access to a broader range of licensed experts—including mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychoanalysts, and creative arts therapists—for support services.
Strengthens required professional standards. by mandating that these practitioners must be registered and hold valid licenses under Article 163, which helps maintain a high level of expertise and accountability for those working directly with students.
May improve student mental health outcomes. by integrating diverse therapeutic approaches and specialties into school support staff, potentially offering more comprehensive and individualized care for students facing various mental health challenges.
Signals a formal recognition of the importance of mental health in educational settings. , which could influence school culture, resource allocation, and the prioritization of student well-being alongside academic success.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Add Mental Health Staff Certification
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
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.
Add Mental Health to Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6002
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 56 to read as follows:
56. The commissioner shall issue regulations to include a school mental health counselor, school marriage and family therapist, school psychoanalyst and a school creative arts therapist in a certificate valid for pupil personnel services.
In addition to any other requirement for certificate established in regulations, a candidate for a certificate established by this subdivision shall be registered and hold a valid license pursuant to article one hundred sixty-three of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately the department of education is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and to take any other measures necessary to implement this act on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01263-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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
2016:S.7611-A Higher Education/ A.9938-A Ways and Means
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately the Department of Education is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and to take any other measures necessary to implement this act on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.