STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5103
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 19, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. HARCKHAM, ASHBY -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and
Substance Use Disorders
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring schools to
include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as an
integral part of their health education programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The section heading of section 804 of the education law, as
2 amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdi-
3 vision 5-a is added to read as follows:
4 Health education regarding mental health, alcohol, drugs, tobacco
5 abuse, co-occurring disorders and the prevention and detection of
6 certain cancers.
7 5-a. Instruction regarding the prevention of co-occurring disorders as
8 a bridge between units on mental health and substance misuse/addiction
9 shall be included in the health education provided for all junior high
10 school grades and the senior high schools. Such instruction shall be
11 designed according to the needs and abilities of the pupils at succes-
12 sive grade levels with the purpose of educating about the importance of
13 maintaining mental health and wellness, fostering and developing healthy
14 decision making through an understanding of pathways to substance
15 misuse/addiction and preparing pupils to live healthy lives. In develop-
16 ing such instruction, the commissioner may consult with the advisory
17 council on underage alcohol consumption and youth substance abuse,
18 established pursuant to section 19.06 of the mental hygiene law, and the
19 adolescent suicide prevention program, established pursuant to section
20 41.49 of the mental hygiene law as added by chapter four hundred nine-
21 ty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred eighty-eight.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
23 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
24 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
25 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
26 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09737-01-5
