BILL NUMBER: S8165
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring at least a
ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one
thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill will require all SUNY and CUNY campuses to maintain a ratio of
at least one certified mental health professional to every one thousand
students, and it will prevent this from being funded through new student
fees.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends section 355 of education law by adding a new subdivi-
sion 22 to require each SUNY or CUNY campus to maintain a ratio of one
clinical, non-student mental health staff member to every one thousand
students within two years of enactment. Each campus will be required to
establish a board of experts and advisors within two years to study and
make updates to the clinician-to-student ratio and make recommendations
every five years to update the ratio based on average national ratios
and best-available practices. Updated ratios cannot fall below a mini-
mum of a one to one thousand clinician-to-student ratio. Maintaining the
minimum clinician - to-student ratio cannot be funded by the imposition
of any new student fees created on or after the date of enactment of
this subdivision.
Section 2. Makes identical changes to section 6206 of education law in a
new subdivision 24,
Section 3. Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Mental health is a pressing issue on college campuses across the state.
Approximately 75% of mental health conditions are diagnosed prior to age
24, yet young adults are least likely to receive mental health coun-
seling. Mental health issues can have a dire impact on college students'
academic success, and in more serious cases can lead to suicide and
physical harm linked to depression.
College students on SUNY and CUNY campuses currently pay a fee for
mental health services, but the reported staffing ratio on some campuses
is only one mental health counselor for over 3,000 students.
Research shows that low-income students are more likely to suffer from
mental health conditions, and CUNY and SUNY campuses have a higher share
of low-income students than their national counterparts. This bill
ensures that campuses are required to staff an adequate number of
licensed clinicians in order to meet the specific needs of their student
populations.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: A4142 (Forrest) - referred to Higher Ed
2021-2021: A302 (Gottfried) - referred to Higher Ed
2019-2020: A9746-A (Gottfried) - referred to Higher Ed
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S8165: 355 education law, 6206 education law