NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2283

Senate Bill S2283

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to higher education
Jan 19, 2023	referred to higher education

2023-S2283 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5085
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§362 & 6235, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S7659, A9753

2023-S2283 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health such as administering student mental health surveys, establishing a mental health committee, administering mental health training to faculty and staff, and improving university policies regarding mental health.

2023-S2283 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2283

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the state
university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt
certain provisions related to student mental health

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation seeks to enact policies at SUNY and CONY to better
student mental health outcomes on these campuses.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section 362 to the education law, this section
requires two mental health surveys to be provided to all students at the
start of their Freshman and Junior year. This survey shall include ques-
tions regarding a student's mental health and general well being. This
information shall be shared with the chancellor, appropriate staff of
each university including the president, oversight council, and any

licensed mental health practitioners employed. Further this section also
requires creation of a five member committee that will be responsible
for engaging with and disseminating mental health resources to faculty,
staff, and students. This committee shall also make recommendations to
the regents of the university regarding how often and in what manner
faculty of the university shall provide mental health wellness days and
excused absences from class for students, as well as consider other
programs to address and improve student mental health. Further this
section also requires faculty and staff to on an annual basis undergo
mental health training with a focus on identifying or recognizing the
signs of mental distress among students. This section also requires for
a review of enrollment and re-enrollment policies rega rding specific
provisions for students that may require extended mental health leave,
as well as creating opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling
options, and to require a mental health seminar for all newly enrolled
students.

Section 2 adds a new section 6235 to require CUNY to conduct two mental
health surveys to be provided to all students at the start of their
Freshman and Junior years. This survey shall include questions regarding
a student's mental health and general well being. This information shall
be shared with the chancellor, appropriate staff of each university
including the president, oversight council, and any licensed mental
health practitioners employed. Further this section also requires
creation of a five member committee that will be responsible for engag-
ing with and disseminating mental health resources to faculty, staff,
and students. This committee shall also make recommendations to the
regents of the university regarding how often and in what manner faculty
of the university shall provide mental health wellness days and excused
absences from class for students, as well as consider other programs to
address and improve student mental health.. Further this section also
requires faculty and staff to on an annual basis undergo mental health
training with a focus on identifying or recognizing the signs of mental
distress among students. This section also requires for a review of
enrollment and re-enrollment policies regarding specific provisions for
students that may require extended mental health leave, as well as

creating opportunities for telehealth and virtual counseling options,
and to require a mental health seminar for all newly enrolled students.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As we work to end the stigma of mental illness we must continue to
improve our public policies to support this need. Recently, New York
enacted Mental Health Education in our schools to get important informa-
tion to students starting at a younger age. It makes sense to as
students matriculate through our educational system to stay on top of
this idea by instituting policies at SUNY and CUNY that are supportive
of student mental health well being. According to a CDC study in 2020, 1
in 4 adults from the age of 18 to 25, considered suicide. Let that truly
sink in. 1 in 4 adults from the age of 18 to 25, considered suicide in
2020. This is proof positive we must do more to support our mental
health needs. Across this country our college students are more stressed
than ever with a litany of concerns that are unlikely to go away and
will more than likely continue to be exacerbated. Amongst these are
concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, loneliness, worries about
mounting student debt, worries about finding a job and making ends meet,
all at a highly emotionally volatile time. We need to open our eyes to
the stress our college students endure and figure out ways to provide
increased supports for them. It is the intent o f this legisla tion to
create a baseline, to start a discussion around mental health on college
campuses so that more can be done to support our college students.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S2283 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2283
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 19, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  requiring  the  state
   university  of  New  York and the city university of New York to adopt
   certain provisions related to student mental health

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 362 to
 read as follows:
   §  362.  STUDENT  MENTAL  HEALTH.  1.  THE UNIVERSITY SHALL CREATE AND
 ADMINISTER, AT THE START OF A STUDENT'S  FRESHMAN  AND  JUNIOR  YEAR,  A
 MENTAL  HEALTH SURVEY. SUCH SURVEY SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
 QUESTIONS REGARDING A STUDENT'S MENTAL HEALTH  AND  GENERAL  WELL-BEING.
 PARTICIPATION  IN SUCH SURVEY SHALL BE OPTIONAL TO EACH STUDENT, AND THE
 RESULTS OF SUCH SURVEY FROM PARTICIPATING STUDENTS SHALL BE SENT TO  THE
 CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY, APPROPRIATE STAFF INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMIT-
 ED  TO THE PRESIDENT OF EACH STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSI-
 TY, ANY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL AS MANDATED PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE  HUNDRED
 FIFTY-SIX  OF  THIS ARTICLE AND ANY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
 EMPLOYED BY ANY OF THE STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY.
   2. THERE SHALL BE A  FIVE  MEMBER  COMMITTEE  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE
 UNIVERSITY THAT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGAGING WITH AND DISSEMINATING
 MENTAL  HEALTH  RESOURCES TO FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS. SUCH COMMITTEE
 SHALL BE COMPOSED OF A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS CHOSEN BY THE CHANCELLOR  OF
 THE UNIVERSITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF EACH STATE-OPERATED
 INSTITUTION  OF THE UNIVERSITY. SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE
 FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REGENTS OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  REGARDING
 HOW  OFTEN  AND  IN  WHAT MANNER FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY SHALL PROVIDE
 MENTAL  HEALTH  WELLNESS  DAYS  AND  EXCUSED  ABSENCES  FROM  CLASS  FOR
 STUDENTS.
   3.  ALL FACULTY AND OTHER STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY SHALL BE REQUIRED ON
 AN ANNUAL BASIS TO UNDERGO MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING WITH A FOCUS ON  IDEN-
 TIFYING  OR  RECOGNIZING  SIGNS  OF  MENTAL DISTRESS AMONG STUDENTS. THE
 CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY,  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER,

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06720-01-3
 S. 2283                             2
 
 SHALL  PRESCRIBE  THE  FORM  AND  MANNER IN WHICH SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE
 PROVIDED.
   4.  THE  UNIVERSITY  SHALL  ALSO  TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS REGARDING
 STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
   (A) REVIEW ENROLLMENT AND RE-ENROLLMENT POLICIES OF THE UNIVERSITY AND
 CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS THAT MAY REQUIRE EXTENDED MENTAL
 HEALTH LEAVE;
   (B)  CREATE  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR  TELEHEALTH  AND  VIRTUAL   COUNSELING
 OPTIONS;
   (C)  REQUIRE A MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL ORIENTATION
 PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS; AND
   (D) INSTITUTE OTHER PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS  AND  IMPROVE  STUDENT  MENTAL
 HEALTH.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
 as follows:
   § 6235. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. 1. THE CITY UNIVERSITY SHALL CREATE AND
 ADMINISTER,  AT  THE  START  OF  A  STUDENT'S FRESHMAN AND JUNIOR YEAR A
 MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY. SUCH SURVEY SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED  TO,
 QUESTIONS  REGARDING  A  STUDENT'S MENTAL HEALTH AND GENERAL WELL-BEING.
 PARTICIPATION IN SUCH SURVEY SHALL BE OPTIONAL TO EACH STUDENT, AND  THE
 RESULTS  OF SUCH SURVEY FROM PARTICIPATING STUDENTS SHALL BE SENT TO THE
 CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY, APPROPRIATE STAFF INCLUDING  BUT  NOT
 LIMITED  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF EACH SENIOR AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE
 CITY UNIVERSITY, ANY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL OF THE CITY  UNIVERSITY  AND  ANY
 LICENSED  MENTAL  HEALTH  PRACTITIONERS EMPLOYED BY ANY OF THE SENIOR OR
 COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITHIN THE CITY UNIVERSITY.
   2. THERE SHALL BE A FIVE MEMBER COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE  CITY
 UNIVERSITY THAT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGAGING WITH AND DISSEMINATING
 MENTAL  HEALTH  RESOURCES TO FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS. SUCH COMMITTEE
 SHALL BE COMPOSED OF A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS CHOSEN BY THE CHANCELLOR  OF
 THE  CITY UNIVERSITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF EACH CITY-OP-
 ERATED INSTITUTION OF THE  UNIVERSITY.  SUCH  COMMITTEE  SHALL  ALSO  BE
 RESPONSIBLE  FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARD-
 ING HOW OFTEN AND IN WHAT MANNER FACULTY OF THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  SHALL
 PROVIDE  MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS DAYS AND EXCUSED ABSENCES FROM CLASS FOR
 STUDENTS.
   3. ALL FACULTY AND  OTHER  STAFF  OF  THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  SHALL  BE
 REQUIRED  ON  AN  ANNUAL  BASIS TO UNDERGO MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING WITH A
 FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING OR  RECOGNIZING  SIGNS  OF  MENTAL  DISTRESS  AMONG
 STUDENTS. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER, SHALL PRESCRIBE THE FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH SUCH TRAINING
 SHALL BE PROVIDED.
   4. THE CITY UNIVERSITY SHALL ALSO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS REGARDING
 STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
   (A) REVIEW ENROLLMENT AND RE-ENROLLMENT POLICIES OF THE CITY UNIVERSI-
 TY AND CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS THAT MAY REQUIRE EXTENDED
 MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE;
   (B)   CREATE  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR  TELEHEALTH  AND  VIRTUAL  COUNSELING
 OPTIONS;
   (C) REQUIRE A MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL  ORIENTATION
 PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS; AND
   (D)  INSTITUTE  OTHER  PROGRAMS  TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE STUDENT MENTAL
 HEALTH.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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