House File 2120 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2120 BY PRICHARD A BILL FOR An Act relating to protocols and school employee training 1 relating to suicide prevention and the identification of 2 adverse childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate 3 toxic stress response and including effective date and 4 applicability provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5469YH (5) 88 je/jh

H.F. 2120 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 33, Code 2020, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 33. a. For purposes of this subsection : 3 (1) “Adverse childhood experience” means the same as defined 4 in section 279.70 280.31 . 5 (2) “Postvention” means the same as defined in section 6 279.70 280.31 . 7 b. Adopt rules to require school districts and accredited 8 nonpublic schools to adopt protocols for suicide prevention 9 and postvention and the identification of adverse childhood 10 experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response. 11 The protocols shall be based on nationally recognized best 12 practices protocols developed by the department pursuant to 13 paragraph “c” . 14 c. The department shall develop protocols necessary to 15 implement paragraph “b” . Such protocols shall address student 16 needs relating to suicide, including the needs of students with 17 suicidal tendencies, students who have expressed thoughts about 18 suicide, and students reentering school after a mental health 19 crisis. The protocols shall be based on nationally recognized, 20 research-based best practices. The department shall provide 21 initial protocols to school districts and accredited nonpublic 22 schools in time for implementation in the school year beginning 23 July 1, 2020. 24 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 280.31 Training on suicide prevention, 25 adverse childhood experiences identification, and toxic stress 26 response mitigation strategies. 27 1. For purposes of this section, unless the context 28 otherwise requires: 29 a. “Adverse childhood experience” means a potentially 30 traumatic event occurring in childhood that can have negative, 31 lasting effects on an individual’s health and well-being. 32 b. “Postvention” means the provision of crisis intervention, 33 support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or 34 suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide. 35 -1- LSB 5469YH (5) 88 je/jh 1/ 4

H.F. 2120 2. By July 1, 2020, the board of directors of a school 1 district and the authorities in charge of each accredited 2 nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based 3 training at least one hour in length on suicide prevention 4 and postvention for all school personnel who hold a license, 5 certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued 6 by the board of educational examiners and who have regular 7 contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. 8 The content of the training shall be based on protocols 9 developed by the department of education pursuant to section 10 256.7, subsection 33, paragraph “c” . 11 3. By July 1, 2020, the board of directors of a school 12 district and the authorities in charge of each accredited 13 nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based, 14 evidence-supported training on the identification of adverse 15 childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic 16 stress response for all school personnel who hold a license, 17 certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued 18 by the board of educational examiners and who have regular 19 contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. 20 The content of the training shall be based on protocols 21 developed by the department of education pursuant to section 22 256.7, subsection 33, paragraph “c” . 23 Sec. 3. REPEAL. Section 279.70, Code 2020, is repealed. 24 Sec. 4. EMERGENCY RULES. The board of education shall adopt 25 emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and section 26 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, to implement the provisions 27 of this Act and the rules shall be effective immediately upon 28 filing unless a later date is specified in the rules. Any 29 rules adopted in accordance with this section shall also be 30 published as a notice of intended action as provided in section 31 17A.4. 32 Sec. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT. Section 25B.2, subsection 33 3, shall not apply to this Act. 34 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 35 -2- LSB 5469YH (5) 88 je/jh 2/ 4

H.F. 2120 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 1 Sec. 7. APPLICABILITY. The requirements of section 279.70, 2 Code 2020, shall continue to apply until the conclusion of the 3 school year beginning July 1, 2019. 4 EXPLANATION 5 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 6 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 7 This bill requires the department of education to develop 8 protocols necessary to implement current statutory requirements 9 for school districts to adopt protocols for suicide prevention 10 and postvention and the identification of adverse childhood 11 experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response. 12 The bill applies the statutory requirements to accredited 13 nonpublic schools. The bill requires that the protocols 14 developed by the department address student needs relating 15 to suicide, including the needs of students with suicidal 16 tendencies, students who have expressed thoughts about 17 suicide, and students reentering school after a mental health 18 crisis. The bill also requires that the protocols be based on 19 nationally recognized, research-based best practices. 20 The bill requires the department to provide initial 21 protocols to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools 22 in time for implementation in the school year beginning July 1, 23 2020, and requires the board of education to adopt emergency 24 rules to do so. 25 The bill repeals existing requirements for similar training 26 in school districts. The requirements shall continue to apply 27 until the conclusion of the school year beginning July 1, 2019. 28 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 29 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 30 section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, 31 subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from 32 complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of 33 the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, 34 political subdivisions are required to comply with any state 35 -3- LSB 5469YH (5) 88 je/jh 3/ 4

H.F. 2120 mandate included in the bill. 1 -4- LSB 5469YH (5) 88 je/jh 4/ 4