SB1044- school safety; task force; report

This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a Safe Schools Plan Task Force within ADE to:

1.       identify successful strategies for partnerships with qualified health and mental health agencies; and

2.       identify best practices, model programs and successful strategies to improve mental health supports in public schools.

Requires that the Task Force include at least the following members:

1.       students and student organizations;

2.       administrators;

3.       counselors;

4.       licensed mental health professionals;

5.       law enforcement officers; and

6.       teachers.

Requires the Task Force to:

1.       explore the potential use of advanced online youth emotional health and crisis response systems that have been developed for use in other states and countries;

2.       suggest to all school district governing boards a school safety plan that includes:

a.       reliable protocols and procedures for communicating with parents; and

b.       training opportunities in recognition, screening and referral that may be available for school staff; and

3.       identify and develop partnerships with community organizations and agencies to refer students for health, mental, substance abuse and social support services.

Requires the Task Force to submit a report, by December 31, 2021, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of State, and the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Education Committee’s- of the findings and recommendations of the task force.

Repeals the task force on January 1, 2024.

_______________________________________________________________

New Version/ Striker

SB1044- safe schools plan; models; required postings

This bill requires all school and charter districts, by the 2022-23 school year, to adopt a safe schools plan that will be annually provided to all persons employed and includes indicators of possible substance abuse, violence and youth suicide.

Requires that all plans adopted will require districts to notify and obtain consent from parents before referring the student to a third party professional for screening, evaluation, or treatment UNLESS they are determined to be an imminent danger.

Requires the Superintendent to develop and post on the ADE website:

=       a model safe schools plan along with relevant resources and information for aid to districts by July 1, 2020.

=       A model memorandum of understanding between a district and mental health or behavioral health entity in the community.

Requires the Superintendent to annually post on the ADE website a list of resources by county, including community organizations that provide support to youth.

States that school personnel are not civilly or criminally liable for any actions taken in good faith.

Requires the Superintendent to establish a safe schools plan task force by December 31, 2019 that will identify best practices, model programs and successful strategies for districts to form partnerships with qualified mental health and social services agencies in the community to improve support for youth.

Establishes that the task force will include at least the following members, to be appointed by the Superintendent:

1.       Students and representatives of student organizations.

2.       Administrators.

3.       School board members.

4.       Counselors.

5.       Licensed mental health professionals.

6.       Law enforcement officers.

7.       Teachers.

8.       A representative from the AZ health care cost containment system, who has experience in youth behavioral and mental health.

9.       Two representatives from mental health providers that have existing partnerships with schools, one of which is located in a county of at least 375,000 and one which is located in a county with a population of less than 375,000.

Outlines the task forces duties as follows:

1.       Explore the potential use of advanced online youth emotional health and crisis response systems that have been developed for use in other states and countries.

2.       Suggest to all school and charter district governing boards a safe schools plan.

3.       Identify and develop partnerships with community organizations.

4.       Make recommendations on how current state and federal programs that provide funding for mental health services can assist students and examine whether current state or federal laws, rules and regulations prohibit making the best use of those programs for students.

5.       Identify and make recommendations to address barriers to accessing treatment for students.

6.       Identify potential resource documents to access mental health and substance abuse supports, including online crisis systems, and post them on ADE’s website.

7.       Beginning December 31, 2020, annually submit a report to the governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Chairperson of the Senate and House Education committees, and Secretary of State that includes the findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Includes automatic repeal after December 31, 2024.