File #: Int 1336-2025    Version: * Name: Requiring the department of education to distribute information about the importance of dental care.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 7/14/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to distribute information about the importance of dental care
Sponsors: Shekar Krishnan
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) to collaborate with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to develop materials relating to the importance of dental care and fluoride. DOE would be required to distribute these materials to every student and every parent of each student.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1336, 2. Int. No. 1336, 3. July 14, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1336

 

By Council Member Krishnan

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to distribute information about the importance of dental care

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 8 of title 21-a of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-969.3 to read as follows:

§ 21-969.3 Distribution of materials on the importance of dental care. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Dental care. The term “dental care” means services that include diagnosing, treating, operating, or prescribing for any disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical condition of the oral and maxillofacial area related to restoring and maintaining dental health.

Home language. The term “home language” means the language most frequently used in the student's home, as indicated by the response provided by the parent or person in parental relation on the home language questionnaire as that term is defined in section 154-2.2 of title 8 of the New York codes, rules and regulations, regarding services for English language learners, or a successor provision.

Oral hygiene. The term “oral hygiene” means the practice of maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity, through methods such as brushing and flossing.

Pediatric dentist. The term “pediatric dentist” means a licensed dentist who has specialized training to provide dental care to individuals under the age of 18.

School. The term "school" means a school of the city school district of the city of New York.

b. Development of materials. The chancellor shall, in consultation with the commissioner of health and mental hygiene, develop materials regarding the importance of dental care, including but not limited to, information on the following topics:

1. The importance of regular dental care checkups;

2. How to establish oral hygiene practices;

3. The health impacts of poor oral hygiene;

4. The importance of fluoride; and

5. Any other information that the department determines is relevant.

c. Information to be distributed. The department shall annually distribute to each school, for distribution to every student and every parent of each student of such school, all materials developed pursuant to subdivision b of this section in hard copy or electronically if availability of similar documents occurs electronically.

d. Language accessibility. All materials developed pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall use plain, simple, and age appropriate language and shall be made available in English, the 9 most common home languages of students enrolled in schools, and in additional languages as determined by the department.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

CY

LS #18432

6/24/2025