BILL NUMBER: S5024
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the depart-
ment of education to develop school health and mental health profes-
sionals to student ratios in public schools
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would require the department of education to develop
school health and mental health professionals-to-student ratios in
public schools.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 sets forth the legislative intent.
Section 2 adds a new subdivision 60 to Section 305 of the Education Law
that requires the commissioner of education to promulgate rules and
regulations to establish statewide school-based health and mental health
professional-to-student ratios in public schools; defines "school-based
health and mental health services;" and defines "public school."
Section 3 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Prior to the pandemic, national research showed that approximately 18%
of students, between 6 and 17 years old, had at least one mental health
diagnosis and approximately 10% of students, ages 3 to 17, had a diagno-
sis of either anxiety or depression. It is unclear how many students
with these symptoms are undiagnosed.
When the pandemic shut down our state, students were abruptly forced
into an unfamiliar and untested virtual learning environment. Students
were isolated from the school setting they were most familiar with and
had limited or no access to the trained mental health professionals who
could observe and support them.
Now that school staff and students have returned to in-person learning,
school health and mental health professionals have noticed that return-
ing students' social-emotional and academic health have been stunted,
and students are in desperate need of services to address these issues.
However, the health and mental health needs of students far outweigh the
number of trained professionals who can support them. This legislation
would require the New York State Education Department, in conjunction
with the associations that represent school counselors, nurses, psychol-
ogists and social workers, must work to create proper health and mental
health professionals to student ratios for New York's public schools.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S7558 - Referred to Education/ A7743 - Referred to Education
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5024: 305 education law