S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5245--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 11, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COLTON, DINOWITZ, BENEDETTO, ENGLEBRIGHT, CASTRO,
ALFANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DUPREY, ESPAILLAT, TOWNS,
WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Educa-
tion -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring students
enrolled in the undergraduate psychology program within the SUNY and
CUNY systems to complete 12 hours of documented volunteer service with
certain places or programs
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
"Vicki's law".
S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 355-d to
read as follows:
S 355-D. REQUIRED VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE
UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM. 1. EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE
UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
SYSTEM SHALL COMPLETE, IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
FOR GRADUATION, A MINIMUM OF TWELVE HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH ANY
OF THE FOLLOWING PLACES OR PROGRAMS:
A. A SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE AND/OR CENTER;
B. A DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION HOTLINE AND/OR CENTER;
C. AN EATING DISORDER HOTLINE AND/OR COUNSELING CENTER;
D. AN EXPRESSIVE THERAPY COUNSELING CENTER;
E. OR ANY CALL CENTERS OR COUNSELING CENTERS WITH PROGRAMS THAT
SPECIFICALLY PERTAIN TO ISSUES SUCH AS ABUSE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS, OR SELF-ESTEEM AND WEIGHT DISORDERS.
2. EACH COLLEGE SHALL APPOINT A FACULTY MEMBER WITHIN THE UNDERGRADU-
ATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM OR AN APPROPRIATE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
TO TRACK AND DOCUMENT A STUDENT'S COMPLETED HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08576-02-9
A. 5245--A 2
SUCH FACULTY MEMBER OR COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SHALL BE RESPON-
SIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT SUCH STUDENT MEETS PROGRAM STANDARDS AND
FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
3. THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE
ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
S 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
as follows:
S 6235. REQUIRED VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE UNDER-
GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM. 1. EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE UNDERGRAD-
UATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM
SHALL COMPLETE, IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR
GRADUATION, A MINIMUM OF TWELVE HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING PLACES OR PROGRAMS:
A. A SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE AND/OR CENTER;
B. A DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION HOTLINE AND/OR CENTER;
C. AN EATING DISORDER HOTLINE AND/OR COUNSELING CENTER;
D. AN EXPRESSIVE THERAPY COUNSELING CENTER;
E. OR ANY CALL CENTERS OR COUNSELING CENTERS WITH PROGRAMS THAT
SPECIFICALLY PERTAIN TO ISSUES SUCH AS ABUSE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS, OR SELF-ESTEEM AND WEIGHT DISORDERS.
2. EACH COLLEGE SHALL APPOINT A FACULTY MEMBER WITHIN THE UNDERGRADU-
ATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM OR AN APPROPRIATE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
TO TRACK AND DOCUMENT A STUDENT'S COMPLETED HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
SUCH FACULTY MEMBER OR COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SHALL BE RESPON-
SIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT SUCH STUDENT MEETS PROGRAM STANDARDS AND
FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
3. THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE
ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.