Relates to requiring at least a ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses

Latest action May 5, 2026

Requires at least a ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses and for state colleges and universities to update such ratio every five years.

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

Same as A832, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill will require all SUNY and CUNY campuses to maintain a ratio of at least one certified mental health professional to every one thousand students, and it will prevent this from being funded through new student fees.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Brian Maher, Catalina Cruz and 9 more on Agora

Democratic10
Republican1

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Toby Ann Stavisky says this is needed

Mental health is a pressing issue on college campuses across the state. Approximately 75% of mental health conditions are diagnosed prior to age 24, yet young adults are least likely to receive mental health coun- seling. Mental health issues can have a dire impact on college students' academic success, and in more serious cases can lead to suicide and physical harm linked to depression. College students on SUNY and CUNY campuses currently pay a fee for mental health services, but the reported staffing ratio on some campuses is only one mental health counselor for over 3,000 students. Research shows that low-income students are more likely to suffer from mental health conditions, and CUNY and SUNY campuses have a higher share of low-income students than their national counterparts. This bill ensures that campuses are required to staff an adequate number of licensed clinicians in order to meet the specific needs of their student populations.

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

May 5, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
May 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly

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 Oct 30, 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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