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.
NEW 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.
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.
LBD14000-06-2
A. 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.
