Bill Text: NY S05103 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires schools to include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as an integral part of their health education programs.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-19 - REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS [S05103 Detail]

Download: New_York-2025-S05103-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          5103

                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 19, 2025
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sens. HARCKHAM, ASHBY -- read twice and ordered printed,
          and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Alcoholism  and
          Substance Use Disorders

        AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to requiring schools to
          include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as  an
          integral part of their health education programs

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The section heading of section 804 of the education law, as
     2  amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new  subdi-
     3  vision 5-a is added to read as follows:
     4    Health  education  regarding  mental  health,  alcohol, drugs, tobacco
     5  abuse, co-occurring  disorders  and  the  prevention  and  detection  of
     6  certain cancers.
     7    5-a. Instruction regarding the prevention of co-occurring disorders as
     8  a  bridge  between units on mental health and substance misuse/addiction
     9  shall be included in the health education provided for all  junior  high
    10  school  grades  and  the senior high schools.  Such instruction shall be
    11  designed according to the needs and abilities of the pupils  at  succes-
    12  sive  grade levels with the purpose of educating about the importance of
    13  maintaining mental health and wellness, fostering and developing healthy
    14  decision making  through  an  understanding  of  pathways  to  substance
    15  misuse/addiction and preparing pupils to live healthy lives. In develop-
    16  ing  such  instruction,  the  commissioner may consult with the advisory
    17  council on underage  alcohol  consumption  and  youth  substance  abuse,
    18  established pursuant to section 19.06 of the mental hygiene law, and the
    19  adolescent  suicide  prevention program, established pursuant to section
    20  41.49 of the mental hygiene law as added by chapter four  hundred  nine-
    21  ty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred eighty-eight.
    22    §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
    23  the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
    24  addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
    25  for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
    26  to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09737-01-5