BILL NUMBER: S3983
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law and the administrative code of
the city of New York, in relation to enacting the "New York City Train-
ing and Comprehension of Trauma in Children (TACTIC) Act"
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
to establish an office of Child Trauma Informed Care and mandates train-
ing for NYC teachers so they can be armed with the necessary tools need-
ed to identify trauma in their students and to properly help their
students.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"New York City Training and Comprehension of Trauma in Children (TACTIC)
Act".
Section 2: The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
7.51.
Section 3: Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York
is amended by adding a new chapter 8-A.
Section 4: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The need for Trauma-informed care training for teachers and specialists
in schools is important to help children deal with trauma. This is a
necessary tool to help teachers identify trauma in their students. Chil-
dren come to school with the baggage of their experiences from home and
in their communities. We are the sum of our experiences, and those expe-
riences include traumatic stress, that many students do not get to check
at the door. The experience of living in a traumatic, stressful environ-
ment on a long-term basis changes a person's perception of safety and
threat, the ability to self-soothe and self-regulate. Most importantly,
it also hinders one's ability to learn. Oftentimes we identify childhood
trauma and chronic toxic stress as abuse, neglect, a physically or
emotionally absent caregiver, domestic violence, or community violence.
However, it can also come from the loss of a parent, school or community
bullying, poverty, medical conditions, or even the pressure to achieve
and meet expectations. Trauma is not just defined by the event, but also
by one's experience of it. Moreover, trauma is any experience that caus-
es ongoing anxiety, stress, or fear that overwhelms the individual's
ability to cope.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S5627 -Referred to Mental Health
2021-22: S5161 - Referred to Mental Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.