Requires the state education department to develop a model mental health training program to serve as the mental health component of required school safety trainings as part of comprehensive district-wide safety plans developed by each district-wide school safety team.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8339
SPONSOR: Gibbs TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the state
education department to develop a model mental health training program
to serve as the mental health component of required school safety train-
ings
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the requirements that school
staff receive mental health training by having the Education Department
develop a model training program, requiring districts use SEDs training
or certify a better one, and broadening the list of staff required to
participate in mental health training programs
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Paragraph (h) of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a of the
2 education law to (1) require the Education Department to develop a
model mental health training program for all school staff to cover
recognition of mental health warning sings, balancing the role of trust-
ed adult with mandatory reporting obligations, referral procedures, and
accessing appropriate services,
(2) require each district-wide school safety team must either adopt the
state model or implement a department-certified program that exceeds the
model's requirements, and (3) allow the department to modify the model
program as needed to address additional topics as they are identified.
Section 2 sets that this act shall take effect on the first of July next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
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JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation will help students who have been facing a mental health
crisis in New York. Recent statistics indicate that almost 60% of chil-
dren face mental health challenges, and such adolescents have escalated
due to the pandemic. The school staff are in the ideal position to catch
early warning signs, but 85% of the teachers require more mental health
training. This bill requires a standard mental health training model so
that school staff can recognize the warning signs, balance their role as
a trusted adult/mandated reporter, and access further services. Studies
have found that mental health training for school staff improves know-
ledge, decreases stigma, and increases confidence in helping students.
The bill provides for annual or biennial training, with refreshers if
required. This acknowledges practical constraints while prioritizing
this crucial training. As per reports from schools with similar training
programs, the mental health literacy of the staff improves, and they can
take appropriate actions that ultimately benefit students as well. There
is a proactive and evidence-based approach that creates a safer environ-
ment in schools, enhances early intervention, and can potentially save
lives.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8339
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GIBBS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the state
education department to develop a model mental health training program
to serve as the mental health component of required school safety
trainings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a of the
2 education law, as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 54 of the
3 laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
4 h. (i) policies and procedures for annual school safety training for
5 staff and students; provided that the district must certify to the
6 commissioner that all staff have undergone annual training on the emer-
7 gency response plan, and that the school safety training include compo-
8 nents on violence prevention and mental health, such training may be
9 implemented and conducted in conjunction with existing professional
10 development and training; provided however that new employees hired
11 after the start of the school year shall receive training within thirty
12 days of such hire or as part of a district's existing new hire training
13 program, whichever is sooner;
14 (ii) (1) the department shall develop a model mental health training
15 program to be provided either annually or as a comprehensive program
16 biennially with an internet-based refresher course on the off-years, for
17 all teachers, assistants, aides, substitutes, coaches, nurses, princi-
18 pals, assistant principals, district superintendents, counselors, admin-
19 istrators, technology staff, bus drivers, clerical workers, security
20 staff, custodians, food service, maintenance and other non-instructional
21 staff which shall include at a minimum, recognition of the warning signs
22 of mental health problems, balancing being a trusted adult providing a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11498-01-5
A. 8339 2
1 safe space to learn with being a mandated reporter, whom to turn to for
2 assistance, and how to access appropriate services;
3 (2) every district-wide school safety team shall adopt the model
4 mental health training program produced pursuant to this subparagraph or
5 a program which has been certified by the department as exceeding the
6 requirements of such model program to serve as the mental health compo-
7 nent of the school safety training as described in subparagraph (i) of
8 this paragraph;
9 (3) the department may modify the model mental health training program
10 produced pursuant to this subparagraph as it identifies additional
11 information and topics to be addressed as needed;
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
13 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
14 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
15 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
16 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
