SUMMARY:  LC 33 5849

Adds a new code section on suicide awareness and prevention requiring the Department of Education to adopt rules to require all certificated personnel to receive annual training, the specified personnel to receive training, and the local system to adopt a policy. 

REQUIREMENTS:

The Department of Education must adopt rules to require all certificated personnel to receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention.  The training will be part of already required programs.

The Department of Education shall in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Suicide Prevention Program established by 37-1-27, and suicide prevention experts, develop a list of approved training materials to fulfill the above requirement.

Approved materials shall include training on how to identify appropriate mental health services within the school and community, and when and how to refer youth and their families to those services.

Each local system must adopt a policy on student suicide prevention and it shall be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders and experts and shall at a minimum address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

The Department of Education shall establish a model policy for use by local systems.

No specific duty is imposed by these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2015