HF 2176 (LSB 6102YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 2176

BY  NUNN

A BILL FOR

An Act  requiring school employee training and protocols relating to suicide prevention and trauma-informed care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, Code 2018, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  33.  a.  For purposes of this subsection:
   (1)  “Postvention” means the same as defined in section 279.70.
   (2)  “Trauma-informed care” means the same as defined in section 279.70.
   b.  Adopt rules to require school districts to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and postvention and trauma-informed care. The protocols shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  279.70  Suicide prevention and trauma-informed care training.
   1.  For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Postvention” means the provision of crisis intervention, support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
   b.  “Trauma-informed care” means services that are based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers of individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize the presence and onset of trauma symptoms, are supportive of trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization.
   2.  By July 1, 2019, the board of directors of a school district shall integrate annual, evidence-based training on suicide prevention and postvention for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in grades six through twelve into the school district’s comprehensive school improvement plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 21. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
   3.  By July 1, 2019, the board of directors of a school district shall integrate annual, evidence-based training on trauma-informed care for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve into the school district’s comprehensive school improvement plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 21. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
    Sec. 3.  ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.  The state board of education shall submit a notice of intended action to the administrative rules coordinator and the administrative code editor pursuant to section 17A.4, subsection 1, not later than December 12, 2018, for the adoption of rules required by section 256.7, subsection 33, as enacted by this Act. The board shall adopt such rules not later than July 1, 2019.
    Sec. 4.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the board of directors of a school district to integrate annual, evidence-based training on suicide prevention for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in grades 6 through 12 into the school district’s comprehensive school improvement plan by July 1, 2019. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices. The bill provides a similar requirement for training on trauma-informed care for school personnel who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade 12.
   The bill requires the department of education to adopt rules to require school districts to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and postvention and trauma-informed care based on nationally recognized best practices. The bill requires the board to submit a notice of intended action to begin such rulemaking no later than December 12, 2018, and to adopt such rules not later than July 1, 2019.
   The bill defines “trauma-informed care” as services that are based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers of individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize the presence and onset of trauma symptoms, are supportive of trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization. The bill defines “postvention” as the provision of crisis intervention, support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.