Requires schools to include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as an integral part of their health education programs

Latest action Apr 29, 2026

Requires schools to include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as an integral part of their health education programs.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders · New York State Senate

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Requires schools to include instruction on the prevention of co-occur- ring disorders as an integral part of their health education programs

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders
Senate Alcoholism And Substance Use DisordersApr 29, 2026Result: passed
(6) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders
Senate Alcoholism And Substance Use DisordersMay 15, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jake Ashby and Nathalia Fernandez

Democratic1
Republican1

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

Co-occurring disorder (COD) or dual diagnosis is the condition of suffering from mental illness and a comorbid substance use disorder. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), reported that over 9.2 million adults in the United States have a co-oc- curring disorder, this number has only grown. Compared to those who have a mental health disorder or substance misuse/addiction alone, people with COD often experience more severe and chronic medical, social and emotional problems. In fact, SAMHSA has reported that youth who experienced serious depression were twice (29%) as likely to use alcohol as their peers who had not been seriously depressed (19%). Although there is speculation about whether substance use or mental health disorders presents first in a youth's life, we do know that undiagnosed mental health problems can lead to self-medicating with substances. This bill seeks to require co-occurring disorders-to be included in junior high and senior high school's health education curricula. Equip- ping our youth with the resources to identify, prevent and maintain mental health and wellness; and helping them understand the pathways to substance misuse/addiction will allow our youths to identify when they are in need of assistance or at risk of developing a disorder.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Apr 29, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
NY Senate
May 15, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
NY Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 2, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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