Bill > A4437

Introduced Session

This bill would permit a student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in a school district to refer, or help facilitate the referral of, a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, for mental health assessments and services. An individual licensed to provide professional counseling would include, but not be limited to, a psychiatrist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or licensed psychologist. A principal or a school counselor will also be permitted to refer or help facilitate the referral of a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, after first consulting with the student assistance coordinator or a school psychologist or other mental health professional working in the school district. In the case of a student who is not legally permitted to consent on his own to the assessments and services, the student's parent or guardian will be notified of the referral or the facilitation of the referral, and the parent or guardian will be required to consent prior to the provision of any assessment or service by the licensed private individual. In the case of a referral or the facilitation of a referral of a student to a private individual licensed to provide professional counseling, the bill provides that neither the school district nor the individual making the referral or facilitating the referral will be required to bear the cost of the assessments and services provided to the student.

Committee Categories

Lou Greenwald (D)*,  Pam Lampitt (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*,  Daniel Benson (D),  Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Yvonne Lopez (D),  Angela Mcknight (D),  Gabriela Mosquera (D),  Carol Murphy (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Lisa Swain (D),  Britnee Timberlake (D),  Chris Tully (D),  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D), 

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 03/04/2021)

Official Document