BILL NUMBER: S7612

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain
persons receive mental health training each year

 
PURPOSE: OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:

To ensure that educators receive training in mental health

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the education law in relation to requir-
ing all educators who hold a level III teaching assistant certificate or
certificate in the educational leadership service to receive a minimum
of three hours of mental health training per year.

Section two of the bill sets the effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The prevalence of mental illness among school-age youth is rising rapid-
ly. Among young people aged 13-18, 46 percent are impacted by ongoing
mental health challenges. When these conditions are left unrecognized
and unaddressed, there can be dire consequences; youth suicide increased
56 percent between 2007 and 2016.

Educators are on the front lines and often have the most frequent and
substantive contact with young people on a daily basis. To capitalize on
this exposure, we need to ensure that our educators are trained to
recognize the signs of mental illness and are equipped to respond to
mental health concerns.

This bill would require educators to receive, at minimum, three hours of
mental health training per year. This training will prepare them to
handle the rising mental health crisis among our youth and take steps to
address mental health concerns among their students.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.