NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7548A
SPONSOR: Hyndman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to establishing a
mental health first aid training program for licensed cosmetologists and
barbers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To create a mental health first aid training program as a requirement
for any cosmetologist, nail specialists, waxing specialists, natural
hair stylists, estheticians or barbers licenses. The mental health first
aid training program would be required for any new applicants, or those
seeking recertification.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides the legislative intent of this bill.
Section 2 adds a new section 408-c to Article 27 of the General Business
Law which establishes a requirement for Nail Specialty, Natural Hair
Styling, Esthetics and Cosmetology licensees and applicants to complete
an eight hour mental health first aid training program focusing on
recognizing the symptoms of common mental health illnesses and substance
abuse, crisis de-escalation, and how to initiate timely referrals to
mental health and substance abuse resources in the community. Rules and
procedures relating to this program would be promulgated and adminis-
tered by the Secretary of State. The certificate for the mental health
first aid training program would be valid for the duration of a license.
Section 3 adds a new section 436-a to Article 28 of the General Business
Law which establishes a requirement for any Barber licensees and appli-
cants to complete an eight-hour mental health first aid training program
focusing on recognizing the symptoms of common mental health illnesses
and substance abuse, crisis de-escalation, and how to initiate timely
referrals to mental health and substance abuse resources in the communi-
ty. Rules and procedures relating to this program would be promulgated
and administered by the Secretary of State. The certificate for the
mental health first aid training program would be valid for the duration
of a license.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The goal of this legislation is to promote the general health, safety,
and welfare of the residents of the state by requiring cosmetologists
and barbers who provide services directly to the public to undergo
training in the provision of mental health first aid. Beauty profes-
sionals interact with the public daily, build relationships with their
clients, and have a strong connection to the community they live and
work in.
This legislation would direct the Department of State to require a
certified a 8-hour mental health first aid training program for new
license applicants and licensees seeking recertification. Mental health
first aid training is customarily an eight-hour course of instruction
which educates participants in the methods of effectively recognizing,
identifying, understanding and responding to signs and behavioral
manifestations of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. This
legislature recognizes that mental health illnesses and substance abuse
disorders often go undetected, and as such, beauty professionals who
have frequent contact with the community that they live in should
receive mental health first aid training to potentially avert tragedies
attributable to suicidal, harmful or aggressive behaviors related to
mental illness, reduce the stigma of mental health issues, and de-esca-
late and refer individuals who are suffering from a mental illness to
receive the medical and emotional care and support they need.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 90 days after it is enacted into law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7548--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 1, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic Development -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to establishing a
mental health first aid training program for licensed cosmetologists
and barbers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. It shall be the intent of this legisla-
2 ture to promote the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents
3 of the state by requiring beauty professionals who provide services
4 directly to the public to undergo training in the provision of mental
5 health first aid. Beauty professionals interact with the public daily,
6 build relationships with their clients, and have a strong connection to
7 the community they live and work in.
8 It is the judgment of this legislature that prompt and effective first
9 aid for mental illness should be a top priority for the state. Mental
10 health first aid training is customarily an eight-hour course of
11 instruction which educates participants in the methods of effectively
12 recognizing, identifying, understanding and responding to signs and
13 behavioral manifestations of mental illness and substance abuse disor-
14 ders. This legislature recognizes that mental health illnesses and
15 substance abuse disorders often go undetected, and as such, beauty
16 professionals who have frequent contact with the community that they
17 work in should receive mental health first aid training to potentially
18 avert tragedies attributable to suicidal, harmful or aggressive behav-
19 iors related to mental illness, reduce the stigma of mental health
20 issues, and de-escalate and refer individuals who are suffering from a
21 mental illness to receive the medical and emotional care and support
22 they need.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11184-03-5
A. 7548--A 2
1 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 408-c
2 to read as follows:
3 § 408-c. Mental health first aid training. 1. All licensees and appli-
4 cants for a license or renewal pursuant to this article shall be
5 required to receive eight hours of a mental health first aid training
6 program, as detailed in subdivision two of this section.
7 2. The mental health first aid training program shall be an eight-hour
8 course specifically designed to educate individuals eighteen years and
9 older in effective approaches to assisting such individuals experiencing
10 a mental health related crisis or problem such as anxiety, depression,
11 psychosis, and addiction. Additionally, such program shall be designed
12 to include, but, not be limited to accomplishing the following objec-
13 tives: recognizing the symptoms of common mental illnesses and substance
14 abuse disorders, de-escalating crisis situations safely and initiating
15 timely referral to mental health and substance abuse resources available
16 in the community. Upon completion of the mental health first aid train-
17 ing program, such licensee or applicant shall be issued a certificate of
18 completion, which shall be effective for the duration of their license.
19 3. All new licensees and applicants for a license or renewal shall be
20 required to complete a training course, pursuant to subdivision two of
21 this section, either through a certified online or in-person mental
22 health first aid training program as directed by the secretary.
23 4. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement
24 and administer the provisions of this section.
25 § 3. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 436-a
26 to read as follows:
27 § 436-a. Mental health first aid training. 1. All licensees and appli-
28 cants for a license or renewal pursuant to this article shall be
29 required to receive eight hours of a mental health first aid training
30 program, as detailed in subdivision two of this section.
31 2. The mental health first aid training program shall be an eight-hour
32 course specifically designed to educate individuals eighteen years and
33 older in effective approaches to assisting such individuals experiencing
34 a mental health related crisis or problem such as anxiety, depression,
35 psychosis, and addiction. Additionally, such program shall be designed
36 to include, but, not be limited to accomplishing the following objec-
37 tives: recognizing the symptoms of common mental illnesses and substance
38 abuse disorders, de-escalating crisis situations safely and initiating
39 timely referral to mental health and substance abuse resources available
40 in the community. Upon completion of the mental health first aid train-
41 ing program, such licensee or applicant shall be issued a certificate of
42 completion, which shall be effective for the duration of their license.
43 3. All new licensees and applicants for a license or renewal shall be
44 required to complete a training course, pursuant to subdivision two of
45 this section, either through a certified online or in-person mental
46 health first aid training program as directed by the secretary.
47 4. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement
48 and administer the provisions of this section.
49 § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
50 have become a law.
