STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

9018

IN ASSEMBLY

January 10, 2020 ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring schools to include instruction on the prevention of eating disorders as an inte- gral part of their health education programs

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 804 of the education law, as 2 amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdi- 3 vision 5-a is added to read as follows: 4 Health education regarding mental health, alcohol, drugs, tobacco 5 abuse, eating disorders and the prevention and detection of certain 6 cancers. 7 5-a. All schools shall include, as an integral part of health educa- 8 tion provided for all students in grades six through twelve, instruction 9 regarding the prevention of eating disorders as a component of their 10 nutrition programs. Such instruction shall be designed according to the 11 age-appropriate needs and abilities of the pupils at successive grade 12 levels, with the purpose of fostering and developing healthy self-image 13 and preparing pupils to live healthy lives. In developing such instruc- 14 tion, the commissioner may consult with the comprehensive care centers 15 for eating disorders established pursuant to article twenty-seven-j of 16 the public health law. 17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next 18 succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law. Effective 19 immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu- 20 lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective 21 date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective 22 date.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD14345-01-9