S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5754
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 20, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to requiring schools to
   include prevention of co-occurring disorders as an  integral  part  of
   their health education programs

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The section heading of section 804 of the education law, as
 amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new  subdi-
 vision 2-a is added to read as follows:
   Health  education  regarding  mental  health,  alcohol, drugs, tobacco
 abuse, CO-OCCURRING  DISORDERS  and  the  prevention  and  detection  of
 certain cancers.
   2-A.  (A)  ALL  SCHOOLS  SHALL  INCLUDE, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HEALTH
 EDUCATION, INSTRUCTION ON THE PREVENTION OF CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, SUCH
 AS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THE MISUSE AND ABUSE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND
 OTHER DRUGS.
   (B) SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL BE DESIGNED  ACCORDING  TO  THE  NEEDS  AND
 ABILITIES  OF  THE PUPILS AT SUCCESSIVE GRADE LEVELS WITH THE PURPOSE OF
 EDUCATING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING MENTAL  HEALTH  AND  WELL-
 NESS, FOSTERING AND DEVELOPING HEALTHY DECISION MAKING THROUGH AN UNDER-
 STANDING  OF PATHWAYS TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE/ADDICTION AND PREPARING PUPILS
 TO LIVE HEALTHY LIVES. IN DEVELOPING SUCH INSTRUCTION, THE  COMMISSIONER
 MAY  CONSULT  WITH  THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON UNDERAGE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
 AND YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 19.06 OF  THE
 MENTAL  HYGIENE  LAW,  AND  THE  ADOLESCENT  SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM,
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 41.49 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD09583-01-5