NY State Senate Bill 2023-S7236A

Senate Bill S7236A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to improving student mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher education in the state, and requiring the amendment or adoption of related protocols, policies and programs

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 08, 2024	print number 7236a
Mar 08, 2024	amend (t) and recommit to higher education
Jan 03, 2024	referred to higher education
May 18, 2023	referred to higher education

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S7236 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6804
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§362, 6235 & 237-a, Ed L

2023-S7236 - Summary

Relates to improving student mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher education in the state; requires the amendment or adoption of related protocols, policies and programs in SUNY, CUNY and independent institutions of higher education.

2023-S7236 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7236

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to improving student
mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher
education in the state, and requiring the adoption of related protocols,
policies and programs

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To promote policies to increase mental health literacy on campuses and
encourage whole. health parity.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section
362, which requires all full-time faculty and staff, as well as adjunct
professors of the state university of New York (SUNY) on an annual basis
to undergo mental health training with a focus on identifying or recog-
nizing signs of mental distress among students.  SUNY schools also shall

review and amend protocols and policies to establish parity between
physical and mental health, amend enrollment, re-enrollment, voluntary
and involuntary leave and termination policies of the university, and
create specific provisions for students experiencing mental health
issues or crises, and provide reasonable accommodations intended to
avoid extended involuntary leave or termination, whenever possible. This
section also requires a mental health seminar to be included in all
orientation programs for newly enrolled students to enhance mental
health literacy, increasing knowledge about mental health, increasing
help-seeking behavior, and reducing stigma.

Finally, this section directs SUNY and the state education department to
research, review, and publish or adopt model protocols and policies to
implement the goals of this Act.

Section two of this bill adds a new section 6235 to the Education Law,
to require the same type of training and development of protocols and
policies for the City University of New York (CUNY), as would be
required for SUNY . schools in section one.

Section three of the-bill adds a new section 237-a to the Education Law
to require the master plans of independent institutions of higher educa-
tion, as required by the Regents, to include protocols, policies and
programs intended to improve the mental health of students, improve
mental health literacy among students, faculty and support staff, and
establish parity between physical and mental health. The master plans
shall also review, amend and publish enrollment, leave, and termination
policies for students experiencing mental health issues or crises;
improve responses to mental health crises; improve suicide prevention
and intervention policies; and provide appropriate staff training to
implement the above-referenced protocols, policies, and programs. Final-
ly, independent institutions of higher education, shall review model
protocols and policies that may be developed or adopted by SUNY, CUNY,
or the State Education Department and consider whether to modify or
adopt for inclusion in their master plans.

Section four of the bill provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:

There's evidence of a college mental health crisis dating back to at
least 2007. Data from an April of 2022 Active Minds study showed a 135%
increase in depression and 110% increase in anxiety among college
students between 2013 and 2021, and in 2021 60% of college students met
the criteria for one or more mental health conditions.

A survey college president conducted by Inside Higher Ed, found that
over 90 percent of presidents reported being very or somewhat concerned
about student mental health during the COVID-19 crisis, making it their
top concern.- The American Council on Higher Education found that over
66 percent of all presidents are reporting an increase in the utiliza-
tion of mental health services due to COVID-19.

This crisis is not limited to college students but pervades the mental
health and wellness of the whole college, including faculty, staff and
students. More than half of college faculty report signs of professional
burnout with 40% considering leaving their current jobs as a result of
COVID changes. While stress was high at the onset of the pandemic,
research has found that faculty anxiety appears to be increasing, with
more faculty reporting peak stress now than at the beginning of the
pandemic.

There are two ways to immediately support the mental health needs of
colleges. First, targeted training is needed to raise mental health
literacy on campuses tailored to the unique needs of students, faculty
and staff. In addition, colleges need resources to improve their poli-
cies and practices for responding to student mental health challenges
(i.e., whole health parity). These policies include, but aren't limited
to, leave of absence and return to campus policies, as well as policies
for suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, except that the provisions
relating to the regents plan and university master plans pursuant to
section three of this act, shall be effective on the first date, follow-
ing the effective date of this act, when such plans are required to be
completed under section 237 of the education law.

2023-S7236 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7236
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BROUK  -- 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  improving  student
   mental  health  and  mental  health literacy in institutions of higher
   education in the state, and requiring the adoption of  related  proto-
   cols, policies and programs
 
   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. ALL FULL-TIME FACULTY AND  STAFF,  AS
 WELL  AS ADJUNCT PROFESSORS OF THE STATE 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 STATE UNIVERSITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE  COMMISSION-
 ER,  SHALL PRESCRIBE THE FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE
 PROVIDED.
   2. THE STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL ALSO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS  REGARD-
 ING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
   (A)  (I)  REVIEW AND AMEND VARIOUS PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES TO ESTABLISH
 PARITY BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE ACCOMMO-
 DATIONS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE;
   (II) REVIEW, AMEND AND PUBLISH  ENROLLMENT,  RE-ENROLLMENT,  VOLUNTARY
 AND  INVOLUNTARY  LEAVE AND TERMINATION POLICIES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY
 AND CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING  MENTAL  HEALTH
 ISSUES  OR  CRISES,  THAT  ARE  INTENDED  TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO MENTAL
 HEALTH CRISES, IMPROVE  SUICIDE  PREVENTION  AND  INTERVENTION,  PROVIDE
 FLEXIBLE  VOLUNTARY  LEAVE OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED STUDENT
 ASSESSMENTS WITH CONSIDERATION OF REASONABLE REQUESTS  BY  STUDENTS  AND
 WITH  APPROPRIATE  DEFERENCE  TO  THEIR  TREATING PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10931-01-3
 S. 7236                             2

 
 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS INTENDED TO AVOID EXTENDED  INVOLUNTARY  LEAVE
 OR TERMINATION, WHENEVER POSSIBLE;
   (B)  REQUIRE A MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL ORIENTATION
 PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS INTENDED TO ENHANCE  MENTAL  HEALTH
 LITERACY AMONG STUDENTS WITH A GOAL OF INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL
 HEALTH, INCREASING HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR, AND REDUCING STIGMA;
   (C)  PROVIDE  APPROPRIATE STAFF TRAINING TO ALL PERSONNEL TO IMPLEMENT
 THE ABOVE-REFERENCED PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, TO REDUCE  STIGMA,  AND  TO
 ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY; AND
   (D)  INSTITUTE  OTHER  PROGRAMS  TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE STUDENT MENTAL
 HEALTH.
   3. THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESEARCH, REVIEW, AND
 PUBLISH OR ADOPT MODEL PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, THAT MAY BE  ADOPTED  AND
 IMPLEMENTED  BY  COLLEGES  AND UNIVERSITIES UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION, TO
 IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
 as follows:
   § 6235. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. 1. ALL FULL-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF,  AS
 WELL  AS ADJUNCT PROFESSORS, OF THE CITY 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 AND
 INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY  AND  REDUCING  STIGMA  AMONG  COLLEGE
 EMPLOYEES.  THE  CHANCELLOR  OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH
 THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL PRESCRIBE THE FORM  AND  MANNER  IN  WHICH  SUCH
 TRAINING SHALL BE PROVIDED.
   2. THE CITY UNIVERSITY SHALL ALSO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS REGARDING
 STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
   (A)  (I)  REVIEW AND AMEND VARIOUS PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES TO ESTABLISH
 PARITY BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE ACCOMMO-
 DATIONS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE;
   (II) REVIEW, AMEND AND PUBLISH  ENROLLMENT,  RE-ENROLLMENT,  VOLUNTARY
 AND  INVOLUNTARY  LEAVE  AND TERMINATION POLICIES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY
 AND CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING  MENTAL  HEALTH
 ISSUES  OR  CRISES,  THAT  ARE  INTENDED  TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO MENTAL
 HEALTH CRISES, IMPROVE  SUICIDE  PREVENTION  AND  INTERVENTION,  PROVIDE
 FLEXIBLE  VOLUNTARY  LEAVE OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED STUDENT
 ASSESSMENTS WITH CONSIDERATION OF REASONABLE REQUESTS  BY  STUDENTS  AND
 WITH  APPROPRIATE  DEFERENCE  TO  THEIR  TREATING PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE
 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS INTENDED TO AVOID EXTENDED  INVOLUNTARY  LEAVE
 OR TERMINATION, WHENEVER POSSIBLE;
   (B)  REQUIRE A MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL ORIENTATION
 PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS INTENDED TO ENHANCE  MENTAL  HEALTH
 LITERACY AMONG STUDENTS WITH A GOAL OF INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL
 HEALTH, INCREASING HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR, AND REDUCING STIGMA;
   (C)  PROVIDE  APPROPRIATE STAFF TRAINING TO ALL PERSONNEL TO IMPLEMENT
 THE ABOVE-REFERENCED PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, TO REDUCE  STIGMA,  AND  TO
 ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY; AND
   (D)  INSTITUTE  OTHER  PROGRAMS  TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE STUDENT MENTAL
 HEALTH.
   3. THE CITY UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESEARCH, REVIEW,  AND
 PUBLISH  OR  ADOPT MODEL PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, THAT MAY BE ADOPTED AND
 IMPLEMENTED BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDER  THEIR  JURISDICTION,  TO
 IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   §  3.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 237-a to
 read as follows:
 S. 7236                             3
 
   § 237-A. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND TRAINING IN
 MASTER PLANS OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION.  1.  THE
 REGENTS  PLAN  FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, REQUIRED TO BE DEVELOPED AND TRANS-
 MITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF  THIS  PART,  AND
 APPROVED  MASTER  PLANS  OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
 SHALL INCLUDE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS INTENDED TO  IMPROVE  THE
 MENTAL   HEALTH  OF  STUDENTS,  IMPROVE  MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY  AMONG
 STUDENTS, FACULTY AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND ESTABLISH PARITY BETWEEN  PHYS-
 ICAL  AND  MENTAL  HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, WHENEVER
 POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE. THE  REGENTS  PLAN  SHALL  ALSO  REQUIRE  SUCH
 INSTITUTIONS  TO  REVIEW,  AMEND  AND PUBLISH ENROLLMENT, RE-ENROLLMENT,
 VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY LEAVE, AND TERMINATION POLICIES  FOR  STUDENTS
 EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR CRISES; IMPROVE RESPONSES TO MENTAL
 HEALTH  CRISES;  REVIEW  AND IMPROVE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
 POLICIES; AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE STAFF TRAINING TO ALL FULL-TIME FACUL-
 TY AND STAFF, AS WELL AS ADJUNCT PROFESSORS, TO IMPLEMENT THE  ABOVE-RE-
 FERENCED PROTOCOLS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS.
   2.  INDEPENDENT  INSTITUTIONS  OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SHALL REVIEW MODEL
 PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES THAT MAY BE DEVELOPED OR ADOPTED BY THE UNIVERSI-
 TY, THE CITY UNIVERSITY, OR THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND  CONSIDER
 WHETHER  TO  MODIFY  OR  ADOPT  FOR INCLUSION IN THEIR MASTER PLANS, FOR
 PURPOSES OF IMPROVING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY
 IN SUCH INSTITUTIONS.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 the provisions relating to the regents plan and university master  plans
 pursuant  to  section three of this act, shall be effective on the first
 date, following the effective date of this  act,  when  such  plans  are
 required to be completed under section 237 of the education law.

co-Sponsors

2023-S7236A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6804
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§362, 6235 & 237-a, Ed L

2023-S7236A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7236A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7236A

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to improving student
mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher
education in the state, and requiring the amendment or adoption of
related protocols and policies of SUNY, CUNY and independent insti-
tutions of higher education

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To promote policies at institutions of higher education to improve
responses to mental health needs and crises, to increase mental health
literacy on campuses, and to encourage whole health parity.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section
362, which requires the state university of New York (SUNY) schools to
review and amend protocols and policies intended to improve the mental

health of students, to improve mental health literacy among students and
staff, and to establish parity between physical and mental' health poli-
cies, whenever possible an appropriate. SUNY schools shall review, amend
and publish enrollment, re-enrollment, medical leave of absence, volun-
tary and involuntary leave and termination policies of the university,
intended to improve responses to mental health needs and crises of
students and improve suicide prevention and intervention. This section
also requires that a portion of orientation programs for new students be
devoted to mental health to enhance mental health literacy, to increase
knowledge about mental health, to increase help-seeking behavior, and to
reduce stigma.

This section also requires all full-time faculty, administrators,
athletic coaches, student-facing and support staff, as well as adjunct
professors of SUNY, on an annual basis, to undergo mental health train-
ing with a focus on identifying or recognizing signs of mental distress
among students.

Finally, this section directs SUNY and the State Education Department to
research, review, and publish model protocols and policies that may be
adopted to implement the goals of this section.

Section two of this bill adds a new section 6235 to the Education Law,
to require the same type of training and development of protocols and
policies for the City University of New York (CUNY), as would be
required for SUNY schools in section one.

Section three of the-bill adds a new section 237-a to the Education Law
to require the master plans of independent institutions of higher educa-
tion, as required by the Regents, to include protocols and policies
intended to improve the mental health of students, improve mental health
literacy among students, faculty and support staff, and establish parity
between physical and mental health. The master plans shall also review,
amend and publish enrollment, re-enrollment, medical leave of absence,
voluntary and involuntary leave and termination policies for students
experiencing mental health needs and crises; improve responses to mental
health needs and crises, improve suicide prevention and intervention
policies, and provide appropriate staff training to implement the
above-referenced protocols and policies.

Finally, independent institutions of higher education, shall review
model protocols and policies that may be developed or adopted by SONY,
CONY, or the State Education Department and consider whether to modify
or adopt for inclusion in their master plans.

Section four of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:  There is evidence of a college mental health crisis
dating back to at least 2007. Data from an April of 2022 Active' Minds
study showed a 135% increase in depression and 110% increase in anxiety
among college students between 2013 and 2021, and in 2021 60% of college
students met the criteria for one or more mental health conditions.

A March, 2023 Healthy Minds study found that 44% of college students
reported symptoms of depression, 37% reported anxiety disorders, and 15%
reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year - the
highest recorded rates in the 15-year history of the survey.

A survey of college presidents conducted by Inside Higher Ed, found that
over 90 percent of presidents reported being very or somewhat concerned
about student mental health during the COVID-19.. crisis, making it
their top concern. The American. Council on Higher Education found that
over 66 percent of all presidents are reporting an increase in the
utilization of mental health services due to COVID-19.

This crisis is not limited to college students but pervades the mental
health and wellness of the whole college, including faculty, staff and
students. More than half of college faculty report signs of professional
burnout with 40% considering leaving their current jobs as a result of
COVID changes.

There are two ways to immediately support the mental health needs of
colleges. First, targeted training is needed to raise mental health
literacy on campuses tailored to the unique needs of students, faculty
and staff. In addition, colleges need to review and whenever possible
improve their policies and practices for responding to student mental
health challenges (i.e., whole health parity). These policies include,
but are not limited to, leave of absence and return to campus policies,
as well as policies for suicide prevention, intervention and "post-ven-
tion."

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, except that the provisions
relating to the regents plan and university master plans pursuant to
section three of this act, shall be effective on the first date, follow-
ing the effective date of this act, when such plans are required to be
completed under section 237 of the education law.

2023-S7236A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7236--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BROUK  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recom-
   mitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with  Senate
   Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the education law,  in  relation  to  improving  student
   mental  health  and  mental  health literacy in institutions of higher
   education in the state, and requiring the  amendment  or  adoption  of
   related  protocols  and  policies of SUNY, CUNY and independent insti-
   tutions of higher education
 
   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 STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL TAKE THE
 FOLLOWING ACTIONS REGARDING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS:
   (A) (I) REVIEW, AMEND  AND  PUBLISH  VARIOUS  PROTOCOLS  AND  POLICIES
 INTENDED  TO  IMPROVE  THE  MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS, TO IMPROVE MENTAL
 HEALTH LITERACY AMONG  STUDENTS  AND  STAFF,  AND  TO  ESTABLISH  PARITY
 BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS,
 WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE;
   (II)  REVIEW,  AMEND  AND  PUBLISH  ENROLLMENT, RE-ENROLLMENT, MEDICAL
 LEAVE OF ABSENCE, VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY LEAVE AND TERMINATION  POLI-
 CIES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS
 EXPERIENCING  MENTAL  HEALTH  ISSUES  OR  CRISES,  THAT  ARE INTENDED TO
 IMPROVE RESPONSES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS  AND  CRISES  OF  STUDENTS,
 IMPROVE  SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, PROVIDE FLEXIBLE VOLUNTARY
 LEAVE OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE  INDIVIDUALIZED  STUDENT  ASSESSMENTS  WITH
 CONSIDERATION  OF REASONABLE REQUESTS BY STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATE DEFER-
 ENCE TO THEIR TREATING PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE REASONABLE  ACCOMMODATIONS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10931-03-4
 S. 7236--A                          2

 
 TO  AVOID  EXTENDED  INVOLUNTARY LEAVE OR TERMINATION, WHENEVER POSSIBLE
 AND APPROPRIATE;
   (B)  INCLUDE A MENTAL HEALTH SECTION IN ORIENTATION PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY
 ENROLLED STUDENTS INTENDED  TO  ENHANCE  MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY  AMONG
 STUDENTS,  TO  INCREASE  KNOWLEDGE  ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND HELP-SEEKING
 BEHAVIORS, AND TO REDUCE STIGMA;
   (C) ALL FULL-TIME FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, ATHLETIC COACHES,  STUDENT-
 FACING  AND SUPPORT STAFF, INCLUDING ADJUNCT PROFESSORS OF THE UNIVERSI-
 TY, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING ON MENTAL HEALTH
 LITERACY, RELEVANT DISABILITY LAW, REDUCTION OF  STIGMA  TRAINING,  BEST
 PRACTICES  REGARDING  REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH MENTAL
 HEALTH NEEDS, AND RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF MENTAL  DISTRESS  AMONG  STUDENTS
 AND  RECOMMENDED  FOLLOW-UP  SAFETY  ACTIONS. ALL SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE
 PROVIDED IN A CULTURALLY COMPETENT MANNER. STAFF SHALL  RECEIVE  INITIAL
 TRAINING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, OR WITH-
 IN  ONE  YEAR  AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THEY COMMENCE EMPLOYMENT AT THE
 UNIVERSITY, WITH REFRESHER  TRAINING  REQUIRED  WITHIN  EACH  THREE-YEAR
 PERIOD  THEREAFTER.  THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY, IN CONJUNC-
 TION WITH THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL PRESCRIBE THE FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH
 SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE PROVIDED; AND
   (D) INSTITUTE OTHER PROGRAMS INTENDED TO ADDRESS AND  IMPROVE  STUDENT
 MENTAL HEALTH.
   2. THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESEARCH, REVIEW, AND
 PUBLISH  MODEL  PROTOCOLS  AND  POLICIES, THAT MAY BE ADOPTED AND IMPLE-
 MENTED BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION, TO  IMPLE-
 MENT THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 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 TAKE THE
 FOLLOWING ACTIONS REGARDING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
   (A) (I) REVIEW, AMEND  AND  PUBLISH  VARIOUS  PROTOCOLS  AND  POLICIES
 INTENDED  TO  IMPROVE  THE  MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS, TO IMPROVE MENTAL
 HEALTH LITERACY AMONG  STUDENTS  AND  STAFF,  AND  TO  ESTABLISH  PARITY
 BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS,
 WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE;
   (II)  REVIEW,  AMEND  AND  PUBLISH  ENROLLMENT, RE-ENROLLMENT, MEDICAL
 LEAVE OF ABSENCE, VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY LEAVE AND TERMINATION  POLI-
 CIES  OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY AND CREATE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS
 EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH  ISSUES  OR  CRISES,  THAT  ARE  INTENDED  TO
 IMPROVE  RESPONSES  TO  THE  MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND CRISES OF STUDENTS,
 IMPROVE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, PROVIDE FLEXIBLE  VOLUNTARY
 LEAVE  OPPORTUNITIES,  PROVIDE  INDIVIDUALIZED  STUDENT ASSESSMENTS WITH
 CONSIDERATION OF REASONABLE REQUESTS BY STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATE  DEFER-
 ENCE  TO THEIR TREATING PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
 TO AVOID EXTENDED INVOLUNTARY LEAVE OR  TERMINATION,  WHENEVER  POSSIBLE
 AND APPROPRIATE;
   (B)  INCLUDE A MENTAL HEALTH SECTION IN ORIENTATION PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY
 ENROLLED STUDENTS INTENDED  TO  ENHANCE  MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY  AMONG
 STUDENTS,  TO  INCREASE  KNOWLEDGE  ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND HELP-SEEKING
 BEHAVIORS, AND TO REDUCE STIGMA;
   (C) ALL FULL-TIME FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, ATHLETIC COACHES,  STUDENT-
 FACING  AND  SUPPORT  STAFF,  INCLUDING  ADJUNCT  PROFESSORS OF THE CITY
 UNIVERSITY, SHALL BE REQUIRED  TO  RECEIVE  MENTAL  HEALTH  TRAINING  ON
 MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY,  RELEVANT  DISABILITY LAW, REDUCTION OF STIGMA
 TRAINING,  BEST  PRACTICES  REGARDING  REASONABLE   ACCOMMODATIONS   FOR
 STUDENTS  WITH  MENTAL  HEALTH  NEEDS,  AND  RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF MENTAL
 S. 7236--A                          3
 
 DISTRESS AMONG STUDENTS AND RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP  SAFETY  ACTIONS.  ALL
 SUCH  TRAINING SHALL BE PROVIDED IN A CULTURALLY COMPETENT MANNER. STAFF
 SHALL RECEIVE INITIAL TRAINING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF
 THIS SECTION, OR WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THEY COMMENCE
 EMPLOYMENT  AT  THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY,  WITH REFRESHER TRAINING REQUIRED
 WITHIN EACH THREE-YEAR PERIOD THEREAFTER. THE  CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  CITY
 UNIVERSITY,  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL PRESCRIBE THE
 FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH SUCH TRAINING SHALL BE PROVIDED; AND
   (D) INSTITUTE OTHER PROGRAMS INTENDED TO ADDRESS AND  IMPROVE  STUDENT
 MENTAL HEALTH.
   2.  THE CITY UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESEARCH, REVIEW, AND
 PUBLISH MODEL PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, THAT MAY  BE  ADOPTED  AND  IMPLE-
 MENTED  BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION, TO IMPLE-
 MENT THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 3. The education law is amended by adding a  new  section  237-a  to
 read as follows:
   § 237-A. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND TRAINING IN
 MASTER  PLANS  OF  INDEPENDENT  INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 1. THE
 REGENTS PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, REQUIRED TO BE DEVELOPED  AND  TRANS-
 MITTED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS PART, AND
 APPROVED MASTER PLANS OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION
 SHALL  INCLUDE  PROTOCOLS  AND  POLICIES  INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL
 HEALTH OF STUDENTS,  IMPROVE  MENTAL  HEALTH  LITERACY  AMONG  STUDENTS,
 FACULTY  AND  SUPPORT  STAFF,  AND ESTABLISH PARITY BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND
 MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING REASONABLE  ACCOMMODATIONS,  WHENEVER  POSSIBLE
 AND  APPROPRIATE.  THE REGENTS PLAN SHALL ALSO REQUIRE SUCH INSTITUTIONS
 TO REVIEW, AMEND AND PUBLISH ENROLLMENT, RE-ENROLLMENT, MEDICAL LEAVE OF
 ABSENCE, VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY LEAVE, AND TERMINATION  POLICIES  FOR
 STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR CRISES; IMPROVE RESPONSES
 TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND CRISES; REVIEW AND IMPROVE SUICIDE PREVENTION
 AND INTERVENTION POLICIES; AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE STAFF TRAINING TO ALL
 FULL-TIME FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, ATHLETIC COACHES, STUDENT-FACING  AND
 SUPPORT STAFF, AS WELL AS ADJUNCT PROFESSORS, TO IMPLEMENT THE ABOVE-RE-
 FERENCED PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES.
   2.  INDEPENDENT  INSTITUTIONS  OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SHALL REVIEW MODEL
 PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES THAT MAY BE DEVELOPED OR ADOPTED BY THE UNIVERSI-
 TY, THE CITY UNIVERSITY, OR THE DEPARTMENT AND CONSIDER WHETHER TO ADOPT
 SUCH PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FOR INCLUSION IN THEIR
 MASTER PLANS, FOR PURPOSES OF IMPROVING STUDENT  MENTAL  HEALTH,  MENTAL
 HEALTH LITERACY, AND RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND CRISES IN SUCH
 INSTITUTIONS.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 the provisions relating to the regents plan and university master  plans
 pursuant  to  section three of this act, shall be effective on the first
 date, following the effective date of this  act,  when  such  plans  are
 required to be completed under section 237 of the education law.

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