This bill (S 1224) prevents school-based health center services from being delivered to medical assistance recipients (like Medicaid beneficiaries) through private managed care insurance plans. It amends state law to require these services to continue being provided directly outside of managed care programs. The key change ensures that students receiving medical assistance can access school health services through traditional public health channels, not through private insurance networks. The bill was passed by the legislature in June 2025 but was vetoed by the governor on October 16, 2025, so it did not become law.
Requires the state education department to develop a model mental health training program to serve as the mental health component of required school safety trainings as part of comprehensive district-wide safety plans developed by each district-wide school safety team.
Requires the department of education to report information regarding counselors, social workers and psychologists in schools and to implement a plan to increase the school counselor, school social worker and school psychologist to student ratio to nationally accepted standards and provide funding for such.
Requires at least a ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses and for state colleges and universities to update such ratio every five years.
This bill requires New York elementary schools to schedule daily recess for all kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Schools must provide either one 30-minute period or two 15-minute periods of unstructured physical activity each school day, held outdoors when reasonable. The recess time cannot overlap with scheduled lunch periods or physical education classes. The law applies to all public elementary schools and takes effect for the school year starting July 1 following its enactment.
This bill increases New York State's subsidy for school lunch meals from $0.1901 to $0.25 per meal served. It directly affects school food authorities statewide, requiring them to certify that at least 30% of their food purchases for lunch programs came from New York farmers or producers in the prior year. The subsidy applies to all free, paid, and reduced-price meals served during the 2022-2023 school year and each subsequent year. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires New York broadband providers to offer high-speed internet service at $5 per month to eligible low-income households. Eligibility includes households receiving free/reduced school meals, meeting income thresholds (185% of federal poverty level), or enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or certain rent assistance programs. The service must provide minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, with providers required to advertise the program and submit annual compliance reports to the state. Violations could result in $1,000 fines per incident.
Provides that any board or trustees of each school district or board of cooperative educational services shall employ a minimum of one school nurse in each school building.
Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to adopt certain provisions related to student mental health such as administering student mental health surveys, establishing a mental health committee, administering mental health training to faculty and staff, and improving university policies regarding mental health.
Requires at least a ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses and for state colleges and universities to update such ratio every five years.
