STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5381
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the institution of a
screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment/evaluation
(SBIRT/SBIRE) at colleges
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 6437-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 6437-a. High-risk substance use screening. 1. Each college shall
4 institute a screening, brief intervention and referral to
5 treatment/evaluation (hereinafter referred to as "SBIRT/SBIRE") that
6 will target high-risk substance users and engage them, and provide stra-
7 tegies to reduce substance use frequency and quantity, and reduce the
8 negative outcomes by adapting interventions to meet the very distinct
9 and complex needs of target populations.
10 2. Early and timely interventions to high-risk substance using
11 students shall be provided before they experience negative consequences
12 which may affect them and the broader campus community. Interventions
13 shall not be limited to substance use, and shall include, but not be
14 limited to, mental health and trauma-informed practices. High-risk popu-
15 lations shall include: first year students, student athletes, students
16 on academic probation, students referred to the office of judicial
17 affairs, and students seeking primary health and mental health care on
18 campus. This program shall include the following components:
19 (a) Each state university of New York and every campus of the city
20 university of New York shall provide training in the administration of
21 all student services staff. Schools shall adopt a multiple level
22 SBIRT/SBIRE approach that includes assessing for mental health disorders
23 and trauma, and is based on research findings and model programs. All
24 students completing screening shall receive information on high-risk
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09981-01-3
S. 5381 2
1 substance use, mental health and trauma, campus norms, and campus
2 prevention resources.
3 (b) All students identified as engaging in, or at risk for engaging in
4 high-risk substance use and associated negative consequences participate
5 as individuals with an evidence-based SBIRT/SBIRE program. Each inter-
6 vention shall be designed to meet the unique complex needs, including
7 the integration of mental health and trauma-informed practices, and
8 culture of the target population. With their informed consent, all
9 targeted students participating in the evidence based SBIRT/SBIRE
10 program may be referred to a more intensive mental health, substance
11 use, or an integrated treatment provider.
12 (c) Counseling center interventionists tasked with delivering the
13 program may include students trained in delivering these interventions
14 through a workshop including pre-doctorial interns in clinical psychol-
15 ogy and doctoral level non mandated staff members. Psychology interns,
16 the office of addiction services and supports certified peers and/or the
17 office of mental health certified peers delivering study interventions
18 shall complete mock intervention sessions until intervention proficiency
19 is confirmed by a supervisor. All of these services' practices shall
20 have co-occurring capability and be culturally appropriate and reviewed
21 for cultural competence.
22 (d) Interventionists shall complete a SBIRT/SBIRE program checklist
23 immediately after each individual session to indicate which components
24 were covered in each session.
25 (e) It is also recommended that campus communities adopt comprehensive
26 prevention protocols that highlight pathways to substance misuse and
27 addiction, including those that integrate messaging around the relation-
28 ship between mental health, trauma and substance misuse and addiction.
29 3. The program described in this section may replicate and adapt best
30 practices from the national registry of evidence based programs and
31 practices and the center for substance abuse prevention recognized model
32 programs at the University of Washington and utilize intervention devel-
33 opers from such model programs to support the program established by
34 this section.
35 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
