Bill > S05944

This bill requires annual depression screenings for students in grades seven through twelve, mandating that each school district conduct screenings using the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 or an equivalent tool approved by the commissioner of education in consultation with the commissioner of health. The screenings must be administered by a qualified professional, such as a school psychologist, nurse, counselor, social worker, or physician, and must ensure student privacy and confidentiality. If a screening indicates a potential issue, the student's parents will be notified within 90 days and advised that the screening is not a diagnosis, with encouragement to follow up with the student's primary care physician. School authorities must forward aggregated, non-identifying data about the screenings to the departments of education and health, who will use this information to identify statewide trends in teenage depression and develop school and community-based initiatives to address mental health. The bill aims to proactively identify and support students who may be experiencing depression by implementing a systematic screening process. The act will take effect on the first of September following its passage into law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5944