Bill Text: NY S05373 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

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) 2024-05-08 - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO EDUCATION [S05373 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S05373-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          5373

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                      March 3, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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.
    21    § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
    22  the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
    23  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
    24  for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
    25  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.
                                                                   LBD09962-01-3