A09753 Summary:
BILL NO | A09753A |
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SAME AS | SAME AS S07659-A |
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SPONSOR | Gunther |
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COSPNSR | |
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MLTSPNSR | |
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Add §§362 & 6235, Ed L | |
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Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health such as administering student mental health surveys, establishing a mental health committee, administering mental health training to faculty and staff, and improving university policies regarding mental health. |
A09753 Actions:
BILL NO | A09753A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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03/28/2022 | referred to higher education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/26/2022 | amend and recommit to higher education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/26/2022 | print number 9753a |
A09753 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A9753A SPONSOR: Gunther
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health   PURPOSE: This legislation seeks to enact policies at SUNY and CUNY to better student mental health outcomes on these campuses.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 adds a new section 362 to the education law, this section requires two mental health surveys to be provided to all students. This survey shall include questions regarding a student's mental health and general well being. This information shall be shared with the chancel- lor, appropriate staff of each university including the president, over- sight council, and any licensed mental health practitioners employed. Further this section also requires creation of a committee that will be responsible for engaging with and disseminating mental health resources to faculty, staff, and students. This committee shall also make recom- mendations to the regents of the university regarding how often and in what manner faculty of the university shall provide mental health well- ness days and excused absences from class for students, as well as consider other programs to address and improve student mental health. Further this section also requires faculty and staff to on an annual basis undergo mental health training with a focus on identifying or recognizing the signs of mental distress among students. This section also requires for a review of enrollment and re-enrollment policies regarding specific provisions for students that may require extended mental health leave, as well as creating. opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling options, and to require a mental health seminar for all newly enrolled students. Section 2 adds a new section 6235 to require CUNY to conduct two mental health surveys to be provided to all students. This survey shall include questions regarding a student's mental health and general well being. This information shall be shared with the chancellor, appropriate staff of each university including the president, oversight council, and any licensed mental health practitioners employed. Further this section also requires creation of a committee that will be responsible for engaging with and disseminating mental health resources to faculty, staff, and students. This committee shall also make recommendations to the regents of the university regarding how often and in what manner faculty of the university shall provide mental health wellness days and excused absences from class for students, as well as consider other programs to address and improve student mental health.. Further this section also requires faculty and staff to on an annual basis undergo mental health training with a focus on identifying or recognizing the signs of mental distress among students. This section also requires for a review of enrollment and re-enrollment policies regarding specific provisions for students that may require extended mental health leave, as well as creating opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling options, and to require a mental health seminar for all newly enrolled students. Section 3 is the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: As we work to end the stigma of mental illness we must continue to improve our public policies to support this need. Recently, New York enacted Mental Health Education in our schools to get important informa- tion to students starting at a younger age. It makes sense to as students matriculate through our educational system to stay on top of this idea by instituting policies at SUNY and CUNY that are supportive of student mental health well being. According to a CDC study in 2020, 1 in 4 adults from the age of 18 to 25, considered suicide. Let that truly sink in. 1 in 4 adults from the age of 18 to 25, considered suicide in 2020. This is proof positive we must do more to support our mental health needs. Across this country our college students are more stressed than ever with a litany of concerns that are unlikely to go away and will more than likely continue to be exacerbated. Amongst these are concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, loneliness, worries about mounting student debt, worries about finding a job and making ends meet, all at a highly emotionally volatile time. We need to open our eyes to the stress our college students endure and figure out ways to provide increased supports for them. It is the intent o f this legislation to create a baseline, to start a discussion around mental health on college campuses so that more can be done to support our college students.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: None.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
A09753 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9753--A IN ASSEMBLY March 28, 2022 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health 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 362 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 362. Student mental health. 1. The university shall create and 4 administer, at the start of a student's freshman and junior year, a 5 mental health survey. Such survey shall include, but not be limited to, 6 questions regarding a student's mental health and general well-being. 7 Participation in such survey shall be optional to each student, and the 8 results of such survey from participating students shall be sent to the 9 chancellor of the university, appropriate staff including but not limit- 10 ed to the president of each state-operated institution of the universi- 11 ty, any oversight council as mandated pursuant to section three hundred 12 fifty-six of this article and any licensed mental health practitioners 13 employed by any of the state-operated institutions of the university. 14 2. There shall be a five member committee established within the 15 university that shall be responsible for engaging with and disseminating 16 mental health resources to faculty, staff and students. Such committee 17 shall be composed of a group of individuals chosen by the chancellor of 18 the university in conjunction with the presidents of each state-operated 19 institution of the university. Such committee shall also be responsible 20 for making recommendations to the regents of the university regarding 21 how often and in what manner faculty of the university shall provide 22 mental health wellness days and excused absences from class for 23 students. 24 3. All faculty and other staff of the university shall be required on 25 an annual basis to undergo mental health training with a focus on iden- 26 tifying or recognizing signs of mental distress among students. The EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD14000-06-2A. 9753--A 2 1 chancellor of the university, in conjunction with the commissioner, 2 shall prescribe the form and manner in which such training shall be 3 provided. 4 4. The university shall also take the following actions regarding 5 student mental health: 6 (a) review enrollment and re-enrollment policies of the university and 7 create specific provisions for students that may require extended mental 8 health leave; 9 (b) create opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling 10 options; 11 (c) require a mental health seminar to be included in all orientation 12 programs for newly enrolled students; and 13 (d) institute other programs to address and improve student mental 14 health. 15 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read 16 as follows: 17 § 6235. Student mental health. 1. The city university shall create and 18 administer, at the start of a student's freshman and junior year a 19 mental health survey. Such survey shall include, but not be limited to, 20 questions regarding a student's mental health and general well-being. 21 Participation in such survey shall be optional to each student, and the 22 results of such survey from participating students shall be sent to the 23 chancellor of the city university, appropriate staff including but not 24 limited to the president of each senior and community college of the 25 city university, any oversight council of the city university and any 26 licensed mental health practitioners employed by any of the senior or 27 community colleges within the city university. 28 2. There shall be a five member committee established within the city 29 university that shall be responsible for engaging with and disseminating 30 mental health resources to faculty, staff and students. Such committee 31 shall be composed of a group of individuals chosen by the chancellor of 32 the city university in conjunction with the presidents of each city-op- 33 erated institution of the university. Such committee shall also be 34 responsible for making recommendations to the board of trustees regard- 35 ing how often and in what manner faculty of the city university shall 36 provide mental health wellness days and excused absences from class for 37 students. 38 3. All faculty and other staff of the city university shall be 39 required on an annual basis to undergo mental health training with a 40 focus on identifying or recognizing signs of mental distress among 41 students. The chancellor of the city university, in conjunction with the 42 commissioner, shall prescribe the form and manner in which such training 43 shall be provided. 44 4. The city university shall also take the following actions regarding 45 student mental health: 46 (a) review enrollment and re-enrollment policies of the city universi- 47 ty and create specific provisions for students that may require extended 48 mental health leave; 49 (b) create opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling 50 options; 51 (c) require a mental health seminar to be included in all orientation 52 programs for newly enrolled students; and 53 (d) institute other programs to address and improve student mental 54 health. 55 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.