Establishes mandatory training for every high school guidance counselor relating to assisting students with autism spectrum disorder; requires high school guidance counselors to receive training at least once a year on the special needs of students with autism spectrum disorder and how to assist such students in the transition from high school to higher education or employment.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3196
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing mandatory
training for every high school guidance counselor relating to assisting
students with autism spectrum disorder
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill will help ensure that students with ASD receive necessary
guidance in high school for transition to higher education or employment
by establishing a guidance counselor training program, specific to the
transition needs of students living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as
determined by the Commissioner of Education in consultation with the
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The commissioner of education, in consultation with the
office for people with developmental disabilities, shall promulgate
rules and regulations requiring every high school guidance counselor to
receive training and instruction relating to understanding the special
needs of high school students with autism spectrum disorder and assist-
ing such students with the transition to higher education or employment.
Section 2: Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The High School guidance counselor is an important resource for
students. With about 1 in 68 children in the United States living with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the need for additional support at the
high school level continues to increase, including the role of guidance
counselors. Understanding the transition needs of high school students
with ASD will help ensure counselors have the knowledge necessary to
help students and parents with guidance for academic, behavioral and
social growth. The additional training offered in this bill helps high
school counselors develop the knowledge necessary to prepare students
with ASD achieve successful transitions to post-school opportunities,
including further education and employment.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-18:A7262 - Referred to education
2019-20:A1367 - Referred to education
2021-22:A1667 - Referred to education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3196
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing mandatory
training for every high school guidance counselor relating to assist-
ing students with autism spectrum disorder
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 63 to read as follows:
3 63. The commissioner, in consultation with the office for people with
4 developmental disabilities, shall promulgate rules and regulations
5 requiring every high school guidance counselor to receive training and
6 instruction relating to understanding the special needs of high school
7 students with autism spectrum disorder and assisting such students with
8 the transition to higher education or employment. Such training and
9 instruction may be included with any other training and instruction
10 required pursuant to this chapter and shall be provided at least once
11 per year or more frequently as determined by the commissioner in consul-
12 tation with the office for people with developmental disabilities.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
14 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
15 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
16 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
17 on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06272-01-5
