BILL NUMBER: S5350A
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To require teachers, administrators, and instructors to receive mental
health response training.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the education law to require training of teachers,
administrators, and instructors in the area of mental health response
training.
Section 2 amends the mental hygiene law to require the Office of Mental
health to advise and assist the Commissioner of Education in developing
a training curriculum for teachers, administrators, and instructors in
the area of mental health response training.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Mental illness is a growing problem among people of all ages, including
children and youth. According to a study by the National Alliance of
Mental Illness (NAM I), the prevalence of mental illness among school-
age youth is rising rapidly. Among young people aged 13-18, 46% are
impacted by ongoing mental health challenges. When these conditions are
left unrecognized and unaddressed, there can be dire consequences; youth
suicide Increased 56% between 2007 and 2016.
Educators are on the front lines and often have the most frequent and
substantive contact with young people on a daily basis. To capitalize on
this exposure, we need to ensure that our educators are trained to
recognize the signs of mental illness and are equipped to respond to
mental health concerns. This bill would require educators to receive
mental health response training to prepare them to handle the rising
mental health crisis among our youth and take steps to address mental
health concerns among their students.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: A2134
2020: A5481
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5350: 3004 education law, 7.07 mental hygiene law
S5350A: 3004 education law, 7.07 mental hygiene law