S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5707
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 6, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BOYLAND -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to screening for eating
disorders
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 901 of the education law, as amended by chapter 477
of the laws of 2004, subdivision 1 as amended by section 57 of part A-1
of chapter 58 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
S 901. School health services to be provided. 1. School health
services, as defined in subdivision two of this section, shall be
provided by each school district for all students attending the public
schools in this state, except in the city school district of the city of
New York, as provided in this article. School health services shall
include the services of a registered professional nurse, if one is
employed, and shall also include such services as may be rendered as
provided in this article in examining students for the existence of
disease or disability, INCLUDING EATING DISORDERS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES
FIVE THROUGH TEN, and in testing the eyes and ears of such students.
2. School health services for the purposes of this article shall mean
the several procedures, including, but not limited to, medical examina-
tions, dental inspection and/or screening, scoliosis screening, vision
screening, EATING DISORDER SCREENING and audiometer tests, designed to
determine the health status of the child; to inform parents or other
persons in parental relation to the child, pupils and teachers of the
individual child's health condition subject to federal and state confi-
dentiality laws; to guide parents, children and teachers in procedures
for preventing and correcting defects and diseases; to instruct the
school personnel in procedures to take in case of accident or illness;
to survey and make necessary recommendations concerning the health and
safety aspects of school facilities and the provision of health informa-
tion.
S 2. Section 912 of the education law, as amended by chapter 477 of
the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08976-01-3
A. 5707 2
S 912. Health and welfare services to all children. The voters and/or
trustees or board of education of every school district shall, upon
request of the authorities of a school other than public, provide resi-
dent children who attend such school with any or all of the health and
welfare services and facilities which are made available by such voters
and/or trustees or board of education to or for children attending the
public schools of the district. Such services may include, but are not
limited to all services performed by a physician, physician assistant,
dentist, dental hygienist, registered professional nurse, nurse practi-
tioner, school psychologist, school social worker or school speech ther-
apist, and may also include dental prophylaxis, vision and hearing
screening examinations, EATING DISORDER SCREENING, the taking of medical
histories and the administration of health screening tests, the mainte-
nance of cumulative health records and the administration of emergency
care programs for ill or injured students. Any such services or facili-
ties shall be so provided notwithstanding any provision of any charter
or other provision of law inconsistent herewith. Where children residing
in one school district attend a school other than public located in
another school district, the school authorities of the district of resi-
dence shall contract with the school authorities of the district where
such nonpublic school is located, for the provision of such health and
welfare services and facilities to such children by the school district
where such nonpublic school is located, for a consideration to be agreed
upon between the school authorities of such districts, subject to the
approval of the qualified voters of the district of residence when
required under the provisions of this chapter. Every such contract shall
be in writing and in the form prescribed by the commissioner, and before
such contract is executed the same shall be submitted for approval to
the superintendent of schools having jurisdiction over such district of
residence and such contract shall not become effective until approved by
such superintendent.
S 3. Subdivisions 4 and 5 of section 918 of the education law, as
added by chapter 493 of the laws of 2004, are amended to read as
follows:
4. The committee is encouraged to study AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
all facets of the current nutritional policies of the district includ-
ing, but not limited to, the goals of the district to promote health and
proper nutrition, REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF EATING DISORDERS, vending
machine sales, menu criteria, educational curriculum teaching healthy
nutrition, educational information provided to parents or guardians
regarding healthy nutrition and the health risks associated with obesi-
ty, opportunities offered to parents or guardians to encourage healthier
eating habits to students, and the education provided to teachers and
other staff as to the importance of healthy nutrition AND ABOUT THE
DANGERS OF EATING DISORDERS. In addition the committee shall consider
recommendations and practices of other districts and nutrition studies.
5. The committee is encouraged to report periodically to the district
regarding practices that will educate teachers, parents or guardians and
children about healthy nutrition and raise awareness of the dangers of
obesity AND EATING DISORDERS. The committee is encouraged also to
provide any parent teacher associations in the district with such find-
ings and recommendations.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.