Requires at least one full-time licensed social worker to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle and junior high school throughout the state.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6763
SPONSOR: Ortiz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a licensed
social worker in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and
senior high school
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To insure that all elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior
high schools throughout New York State have an effective social work
program in place to meet the needs of their students.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b, to require
the board of trustees of every school district to employ at least one
licensed social worker in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior
high and senior high school under their jurisdiction. This employment
shall be exclusive of any social workers funded or mandated through any
special education funding, aid, regulation or statute.
JUSTIFICATION:
The role and function of a school social worker and the role and func-
tion of other pupil personnel services are distinctly separate. In addi-
tion to possessing certification through the Office of Teaching Initi-
atives, school social workers are licensed by the New York State Board
of Regents with a scope of practice legally protected under Article 154
of the New York State Education Law.
School social workers are at the forefront of school social, behavioral,
and community issues. The skills and competencies of school social work-
ers enable schools to carry out their primary functions of educating all
pupils more effectively. Reducing or eliminating the presence of social
workers in our schools would have a devastating effect on our students.
Given the current economic crisis and the resulting impact on families
and children, stress and worry has risen sharply due to loss of income,
rising debt, unemployment, underemployment, loss of insurance, housing
instability, hunger, and many other factors. These factors are known to
contribute to increased incidence of mental illness, substance abuse,
suicide, violence, crime, and, in an academic environment, may be attri-
buted to increased absence and risk of school failure. School social
workers are qualified to address these factors. By applying appropriate
intervention strategies, school social workers are able to alleviate
some of these issues and support academic success. Every student in New
York deserves equal access to services and every school in New York
should provide the important services social workers can provide.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2002: A11215 Held for Consideration in Education
2003/04: A3422 Held for Consideration in Education
2005/06: A2079 Referred to Education
2007/08: A3827 Referred to Education 2009/10: A2491 Referred to Educa-
tion
2011/12: A937A Held for Consideration in Education
2013/14: A3227 Referred to Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Unknown
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6763
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 1, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a licensed
social worker in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high
and senior high school
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b
2 to read as follows:
3 § 803-b. Social workers licensed under article one hundred fifty-four
4 of this chapter required in elementary, intermediate, middle, junior
5 high and senior high schools. The board of education or trustees of
6 every school district in the state shall on and after July first, two
7 thousand fifteen employ at least one licensed social worker in each of
8 the schools under their jurisdiction exclusive of any social workers
9 funded or mandated through any special education funding, aid, regu-
10 lation or statute. Such licensed social worker shall perform such
11 duties within their lawful scope of practice.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04092-01-5
