New York Assembly Bill A11315

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/11/26
• Refer: 5/11/26

Caption

Requires SUNY and CUNY institutions which offer a master of social work degree program to offer a maternal mental health elective course to students

Summary

This bill would require the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to adopt policies ensuring that any institution offering a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree also offers a maternal mental health elective course. The course must provide comprehensive training on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and teach students best practices for screening, referral, and treatment. The measure is aimed at expanding professional training for future social workers so they are better prepared to identify and respond to maternal mental health needs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It applies only to SUNY and CUNY institutions with MSW programs and would take effect on July 1 following enactment, with immediate authorization for any needed implementing regulations.

Impact

The bill would amend the Education Law by adding new requirements to sections governing SUNY and CUNY trustees, directing both systems to adopt policies mandating a maternal mental health elective in qualifying MSW programs. It would not directly regulate private colleges or change licensing standards, but it would affect curriculum requirements at public university social work programs and potentially influence training pipelines for social workers statewide.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is straightforward and likely intended as a public health and professional education measure, with no recorded committee opposition or vote history in the materials provided. The sponsor request and committee introduction indicate institutional support at the drafting stage, and the bill’s focus on maternal mental health suggests a generally favorable policy framing.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or votes, so there is no recorded disagreement about the bill’s substance. Potential areas of debate, if raised later, could include whether the mandate should apply only to public universities, the administrative burden on MSW programs, and whether an elective requirement is sufficient to address maternal mental health training needs.