SF 378 (LSB 2108XS (3) 87)

SENATE FILE 378

BY  PETERSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for training on suicide awareness and prevention for school personnel and crisis plans for attendance centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  61.  Develop or select programs or materials for suicide awareness and prevention training required by section 272.2, subsection 20, and make such programs or materials available at no cost to individuals required to undergo such training.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  62.  Provide guidance to school districts regarding the development and implementation of attendance center suicide awareness, prevention, and response plans pursuant to section 279.70.
    Sec. 2.  Section 272.2, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  20.  Adopt rules requiring persons holding a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board who provide a service to students to undergo one hour of training on suicide awareness and prevention per calendar year as a condition of renewal of the license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition. A person may meet this requirement through independent self-review of training materials approved by the department of education.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  279.70  Attendance center suicide awareness, prevention, and response plans.
   The board of directors of a school district shall develop and implement an attendance center suicide awareness, prevention, and response plan for each attendance center in the district. The plan shall include procedures for suicide awareness, prevention, and response. The procedures shall include steps for recognizing suicide ideation by a student, appropriate methods of intervention for a student presenting a risk for suicide, and a crisis recovery plan for responses to student suicide.
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 educational examiners to adopt rules requiring persons holding a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board who provide a service to students to undergo one hour of training on suicide awareness and prevention as a condition of renewal of the license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition. The requirement applies each time an individual seeks renewal. A person may meet this requirement through independent self-review of training materials approved by the department of education.
   The bill requires school boards to develop and implement attendance center suicide awareness, prevention, and response plans for each attendance center in the school district. The plan must include procedures for suicide awareness, prevention, and response.
   The bill requires the director of the department of education to develop or select programs or materials for suicide awareness and prevention training required by the bill and make such programs or materials available at no cost to individuals required to undergo such training. The bill requires the director to provide guidance to school districts regarding the development and implementation of attendance center suicide awareness, prevention, and response plans pursuant to the bill.