What's happening
This bill requires mental health first aid training for teachers, administrators, and instructors in New York schools.
Why it matters
Aims to equip school staff with practical skills. for recognizing and responding to mental health crises among students, potentially leading to earlier intervention and support.
Mandates collaboration between the Department of Education and the Office of Mental Health. , ensuring that mental health training is informed by current best practices and tailored to real-world school settings.
Signals a shift in educational priorities. , emphasizing that mental health is as important as academic achievement and safety, which may help reduce stigma and foster a more supportive school climate.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Mental Health Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to education
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6628
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
July 12, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law and the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring training for teachers, administrators and instructors in the area of mental health first aid
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3004 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. On and after the effective date of this subdivision, the commissioner, in conjunction with the office of mental health, is authorized and directed to require training of teachers, administrators and instructors in the area of mental health first aid. The commissioner shall have the power to prescribe the necessary regulations and establish such programs and training related to mental health first aid.
§ 2. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (h) to read as follows:
(h) The office of mental health shall advise and assist the commissioner of education in developing a training curriculum for teachers, administrators and instructors in the area of mental health first aid to meet the needs of a person experiencing mental health issues.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09523-01-9
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 and the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring training for teachers, administra- tors and instructors in the area of mental health first aid
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation will require teachers, administrators, and instructors to receive mental health first aid training.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Section 3004 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7
Section 2: Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (h)
Section 3: This act shall take effective immediately.
Justification
Mental illness is a growing problem within the youth of our society. Often times, school systems are not adept to handle the growing burden of children mental health issues. However, by giving teachers the neces- sary training to handle the most immediate of mental health issues, we can begin to tackle the problem from the ground up. This bill is not meant to replace the need of school nurses or psychiatrists, but rather provide teachers the means with which they can held their students.
According to a study by the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition, 11% of youth have a mood disorder,and 10% of youth have behavior or conduct disorder. Or those students who have mental health issues, 50% drop out of high school.
This legislation will prove a necessary step in tackling this state - and countries - mental health crisis.
Legislative history
None
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.