This bill requires all public schools to integrate eating disorder prevention education into health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. It mandates age-appropriate instruction designed to foster healthy self-image and prepare students for healthy living, as part of existing nutrition programs. Schools must develop this curriculum with guidance from eating disorder centers, as permitted by the commissioner. The law takes effect September 1st following its enactment.
This bill (A 1724, "Hunger-Free Campus Act") creates a grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities. It requires qualifying campuses to meet specific standards - including establishing student-inclusive task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating food pantries, and hosting awareness events - to earn "hunger-free campus" designation. Public institutions meeting these criteria receive competitive grants to fund food security initiatives like meal vouchers, pantry access, and SNAP outreach. The program mandates annual student hunger surveys and requires a two-year report to state leaders detailing grant usage, student impacts, and recommendations for future funding.
Provides that where a pupil may be considered a dangerous threat to themself or others, such pupil may be suspended for no more than ten days prior to a hearing taking place to allow the school to have adequate time to make an evaluation on the pupil's mental health, which may include a psychiatric evaluation, and the risk of danger to others and to consult with law enforcement.
Implements a state-wide plan to prevent and reduce the use of seclusion and physical restraint in schools; prohibits the use of seclusion, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and dangerous restraints that restrict breathing on students; authorizes annual appropriations to provide grants to school districts; provides for more rapid notice to parents if restraints or seclusion is used on a student.
Establishes protections for the rights of pregnant students, parenting students, and students with pregnancy-related conditions in schools; requires schools to establish liaison officers for such students and to disseminate information relating to resources available to such students; directs that rules be established to administer such rights and to establish minimum periods of time for a leave of absence at the student's option.
Requires each school district to ensure that every public school in which school days exceed five hours in duration provides up to thirty minutes of daily recess within the school day for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade and for students in sixth grade who attend an elementary school.
Expands the definition of wellness programs to include a program to address the impacts of technology use on the mental and physical well-being of youth.
S 16, "Jacobe's Law," requires school staff to contact parents or guardians when bullying or harassment is confirmed involving a student. School counselors, principals, or other designated staff must first discuss with the student whether contacting parents would raise health, safety, or privacy concerns before making reasonable efforts to notify them via phone, email, or mail. The law also protects individuals who report bullying or harassment in good faith from retaliation or legal liability. This affects students involved in such incidents, their parents/guardians, and school staff responsible for handling reports.
This bill (A 1660) requires New York teachers and school leaders to complete mandatory mental health-related training as part of their continuing education for license renewal. It mandates the development of course materials covering topics like identifying mental health signs, crisis de-escalation, eating disorders, and behavioral health disorders, to be included in existing continuing education requirements. Teachers must complete this training at least twice during each five-year license renewal period. The policy directly affects all licensed K-12 educators in New York who need to maintain their teaching credentials. The bill specifies that training must include evidence-based programs like Mental Health First Aid, without changing the overall 100-hour continuing education requirement.
Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.
