Bill Text: NY A04656 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides that a mental health certificate shall be requested from each student at the same time health certificates are required; provides that an assessment and mental health history of any child may be requested by the local school authorities at any time in their discretion to promote the educational interests of such child; makes related provisions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-04 - referred to education [A04656 Detail]

Download: New_York-2025-A04656-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          4656

                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    February 4, 2025
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SCHIAVONI  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Education

        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to mental health  certif-
          icates

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The section heading of section 903 of the education law, as
     2  amended by chapter 281 of the laws of 2007, is amended and a new  subdi-
     3  vision 2-a is added to read as follows:
     4    Students  to furnish health certificates[; and], dental health certif-
     5  icates, and mental health certificates.
     6    2-a. a. A mental health  certificate  shall  be  requested  from  each
     7  student.  Each  student  is requested to furnish a mental health certif-
     8  icate at the same time  that  health  certificates  are  required.    An
     9  assessment  and  mental  health history of any child may be requested by
    10  the local school authorities at any time in their discretion to  promote
    11  the  educational  interests  of  such  child.  Each certificate shall be
    12  signed by a  duly  licensed  physician,  psychologist,  psychiatrist  or
    13  licensed  clinical social worker who is authorized by law to practice in
    14  this state, and consistent with any applicable written  practice  agree-
    15  ment,  or  by  a  duly licensed physician, psychologist, psychiatrist or
    16  licensed clinical social worker who is authorized  to  practice  in  the
    17  jurisdiction  in  which  the  assessment  was  given,  provided that the
    18  commissioner has determined that  such  jurisdiction  has  standards  of
    19  licensure  and  practice  comparable  to  those  of  New York. Each such
    20  certificate shall describe the mental health condition  of  the  student
    21  when the assessment was made, which shall not be more than twelve months
    22  prior  to the commencement of the school year in which the assessment is
    23  requested, and shall state whether such student is in fit  condition  of
    24  mental health to permit such student's attendance at the public school.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07548-01-5
        A. 4656                             2

     1    b.  A  notice  of  request  for  mental  health  certificates shall be
     2  distributed at the  same  time  that  parents  or  persons  in  parental
     3  relationship to students are notified of health examination requirements
     4  and  shall  state  that  a  list of mental health practices, physicians,
     5  psychologists,  psychiatrists  and  licensed  clinical social workers to
     6  which children may be referred for mental health services on a  free  or
     7  reduced  cost basis is available upon request at the child's school. The
     8  department shall,  in  collaboration  with  the  department  of  health,
     9  compile  and  maintain  a  list  of mental health practices, physicians,
    10  psychologists, psychiatrists and licensed  clinical  social  workers  to
    11  which  children  may be referred for mental health services on a free or
    12  reduced cost basis. Such list shall be  made  available  to  all  public
    13  schools  and  be  made  available  to  parents  or  persons  in parental
    14  relationship upon request. The department shall  promulgate  regulations
    15  to  ensure  the gathering and dissemination of the proper information to
    16  interested parties.
    17    § 2. This act shall take effect the first of July next succeeding  the
    18  date on which it shall have become a law.