S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4136
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WALLACE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation
   to establishing a statewide  youth  mental  health  and  social  media
   campaign  to  promote  public awareness of the impacts of social media
   usage on mental health

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Article 25 of the public health law is amended by adding a
 new title 7-A to read as follows:
 
                                TITLE VII-A
                               SOCIAL MEDIA
 
 SECTION 2596. STATEWIDE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
   § 2596. STATEWIDE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL  MEDIA  CAMPAIGN.  1.
 THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF INFOR-
 MATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, SHALL ESTABLISH  A  STATEWIDE  YOUTH  MENTAL
 HEALTH  AND  SOCIAL  MEDIA  CAMPAIGN  TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE
 IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE ON MENTAL HEALTH. SUCH  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 DIRECTED AT CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, THEIR PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS.
   2. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   A.  EDUCATING  PEOPLE ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HAVE ON
 YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH;
   B. PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS  OF  EXISTING  RESEARCH  AND  STATISTICS
 REGARDING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE;
   C.  EDUCATING PEOPLE ON TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND
 ANXIETY, INCREASE SLEEP QUALITY, AND REDUCE THE EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH
 CAUSED BY CYBERBULLYING;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06190-01-3
 A. 4136                             2
              

 
   D. PROMOTING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS RELATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE'S USE OF SOCIAL
 MEDIA;
   E.   INCREASING  AWARENESS  OF  AND  ACCESS  TO  YOUTH  MENTAL  HEALTH
 RESOURCES; AND
   F. PROMOTING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF SELF-EXPRESSION.
   3. ON OR BEFORE JULY FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNC-
 TION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF  EDUCATION,  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  MENTAL
 HEALTH,  AND  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
 SERVICES, SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE  GOVERNOR,  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE
 ASSEMBLY, AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS
 OF  THE  STATEWIDE  YOUTH  MENTAL  HEALTH  AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND
 RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES WHICH SHOULD BE MADE TO ANY LAWS,  RULES,  OR
 REGULATIONS RELATING THERETO.
   §  2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to read
 as follows:
   § 805. COURSES OF STUDY ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE. 1.  THE  REGENTS  SHALL
 ENSURE  THAT  THE  COURSE  OF INSTRUCTION IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
 TWELVE INCLUDES A COMPONENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE. SUCH COMPONENT  SHALL
 INSTRUCT STUDENTS ON:
   (A) THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HAVE ON MENTAL HEALTH;
   (B)  RESEARCH  AND STATISTICS REGARDING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL
 MEDIA USE;
   (C) TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND  ANXIETY,  INCREASE
 SLEEP  QUALITY, AND REDUCE THE EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH CAUSED BY CYBER-
 BULLYING;
   (D) HEALTHY SOCIAL MEDIA USE BEHAVIORS;
   (E) MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS; AND
   (F) METHODS OF SELF-EXPRESSION OTHER THAN SOCIAL MEDIA.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONER  OF  HEALTH,
 THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  MENTAL  HEALTH, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE  TO
 ASSIST  IN  THE DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA FOR SUCH COURSES OF STUDY WHICH
 SHALL BE AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND ABILI-
 TIES OF PUPILS AT SUCCESSIVE GRADE LEVELS.
   3. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EVERY SCHOOL  DISTRICT  SHALL
 PROVIDE  APPROPRIATE  TRAINING  AND CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR THE REGULAR
 TEACHERS WHO PROVIDE SUCH INSTRUCTION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.