NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5540
SPONSOR: Jackson TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring all schools
have a calming space for students
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to enforce schools to have a calming space
for students.
SUMMARY OF PROVISION:
Section 1: Amends the education law by adding section 409-o that
requires rooms dedicated to calming spaces for student activities
including but not limited to praying, meditating and calming themselves.
Section 2: Sets effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
Today's youth are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress and anxie-
ty, making them more susceptible to substance use disorders, thoughts of
suicide, and violence. Implementing accessible wellness rooms gives
students a safe space to regulate their emotions and manage stress. This
initiative not only enhances school connectedness but also positively
impacts student participation and overall academic performance, empha-
sizing the importance of clear expectations in promoting the benefits of
wellness rooms.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A8845 of 2023-2024; referred to education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:.
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:;
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5540
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JACKSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring all schools
have a calming space for students
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 409-o
2 to read as follows:
3 § 409-o. Calming space. The board of education or trustees of every
4 school district or, in the case of the city school district of New York,
5 the chancellor, and every board of cooperative educational services,
6 charter school and nonpublic school within the state shall develop poli-
7 cies and procedures requiring that there is a room dedicated as a calm-
8 ing space available to students for activities including, but not limit-
9 ed to, praying, meditating, and calming themselves.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
11 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
12 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
13 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
14 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04024-01-5
