Print
House File 498 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1establishing an Iowa center for suicide prevention in
2the department of education and requiring school employee
3training and protocols relating to suicide prevention and
4trauma-informed care and making an appropriation.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2017, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 33. Adopt rules to require school districts
4to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and postvention, as
5developed by the Iowa center for suicide prevention established
6in section 256.47.
7 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 256.47 Iowa center for suicide
8prevention.
91. For purposes of this section, unless the context
10otherwise requires:
11a. “Postvention” means the provision of crisis intervention,
12support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or
13suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
14b. “Trauma-informed care” means services that are based
15on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers of
16individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role
17trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize
18the presence and onset of trauma symptoms, are supportive of
19trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization.
202. The Iowa center for suicide prevention is established in
21the department to provide, in a coordinated and comprehensive
22way, ongoing support to Iowa’s schools relating to suicide
23prevention and trauma-informed care, in the form of
24information, resources, and evidence-based training content.
25It shall be the goal of the center that every student,
26regardless of where they reside in the state, have access
27to the same high-quality suicide prevention, intervention,
28and support resources. The department may employ personnel
29necessary to carry out the duties of the center.
303. The center shall have the initial responsibility of
31supporting schools with implementation of suicide prevention
32programs and development of trauma-informed learning
33environments, including but not limited to the following:
34a. Through collaboration with suicide prevention
35coordinators and initiatives across state departments, the
-1-1center shall lead a public-private coalition of state and
2local agencies, community groups, organizations including area
3education agencies, and individuals with the goal of supporting
4statewide suicide prevention, awareness, and intervention, and
5providing necessary resources for such efforts.
6b. The center shall adapt existing evidence-based suicide
7prevention and trauma-informed care training for school
8personnel, which training accounts for best practices and
9up-to-date research in these fields, to be provided pursuant to
10section 280.30. The center shall provide guidance and support
11to schools providing such training.
12c. The center shall develop evidence-based model protocols
13to assist schools in suicide prevention and postvention, to be
14adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 33.
15d. The center shall develop recommendations for
16social-emotional learning programs and supports for schools.
17e. The center shall encourage content developed by the
18center to be included in preservice teacher training.
194. The long-term responsibilities of the center shall
20include the following:
21a. Coordinating a comprehensive community effort of suicide
22prevention to identify and develop supports for students at
23risk of suicide.
24b. Adapting, reviewing, and improving evidence-based
25training on suicide prevention and trauma-informed care on an
26ongoing basis.
27c. Identifying unmet needs in school and community
28social-emotional learning supports.
29d. Supporting efforts by schools to provide suicide
30prevention and trauma-informed care for students.
31e. Through community involvement, identifying resources
32outside of a school setting for students identified as at risk
33for suicide.
34 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 280.30 Suicide prevention and
35trauma-informed care training.
-2- 11. By July 1, 2018, the board of directors of a school
2district shall integrate biennial, evidence-based training on
3suicide prevention for all school personnel who hold a license,
4certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition
5issued by the board of educational examiners and who have
6regular contact with students in grades six through twelve
7into the school district’s comprehensive school improvement
8plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 21. The
9content of the training shall be determined by the Iowa center
10for suicide prevention established in section 256.47.
112. By July 1, 2018, the board of directors of a school
12district shall integrate biennial, evidence-based training
13on trauma-informed care for all school personnel who hold
14a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of
15recognition issued by the board of educational examiners
16and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten
17through grade twelve into the school district’s comprehensive
18school improvement plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7,
19subsection 21. The content of the training shall be determined
20by the Iowa center for suicide prevention established in
21section 256.47.
22 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the
23general fund of the state to the department of education for
24the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30,
252018, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
26to be used for the purposes designated:
27For the establishment and administration of the Iowa
28center for suicide prevention, including salaries, support,
29maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
.................................................. $30500,000
31 Sec. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES. The state board of education
32shall submit a notice of intended action to the administrative
33rules coordinator and the administrative code editor pursuant
34to section 17A.4, subsection 1, not later than December 13,
352017, for the adoption of rules required by section 256.7,
-3-1subsection 33, as enacted by this Act. The board shall adopt
2such rules not later than July 1, 2018.
3EXPLANATION
4The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
5the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
6This bill establishes the Iowa center for suicide prevention
7in the department of education to provide, in a coordinated and
8comprehensive way, ongoing support to Iowa’s schools relating
9to suicide prevention and trauma-informed care, in the form of
10information, resources, and evidence-based training content.
11The goal of the center is that every student, regardless
12of where they reside in the state, have access to the same
13high-quality suicide prevention, intervention, and support
14resources. The department may employ personnel necessary to
15carry out the duties of the center.
16The bill provides that the center has the initial
17responsibility of supporting schools with implementation of
18suicide prevention programs and development of trauma-informed
19learning environments, including adaptation of existing
20evidence-based suicide prevention and trauma-informed
21care training for school personnel and development of
22evidence-based model protocols to assist schools in suicide
23prevention and postvention. The bill also provides long-term
24responsibilities of the center, including adapting, reviewing,
25and improving evidence-based training on suicide prevention and
26trauma-informed care on an ongoing basis and supporting efforts
27by schools to provide suicide prevention and trauma-informed
28care for students.
29The bill appropriates $500,000 from the general fund of
30the state to the department for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the
31establishment and administration of the center.
32The bill requires the board of directors of a school
33district to integrate biennial, evidence-based training on
34suicide prevention for all school personnel who hold a license,
35certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued
-4-1by the board of educational examiners and who have regular
2contact with students in grades six through 12 into the school
3district’s comprehensive school improvement plan by July 1,
42018. The content of the training shall be determined by the
5center. The bill provides a similar requirement for training
6on trauma-informed care for school personnel who have regular
7contact with students in kindergarten through grade 12.
8The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules
9to require school districts to adopt protocols for suicide
10prevention and postvention as developed by the center. The
11bill requires the board to submit a notice of intended action
12to begin such rulemaking no later than December 13, 2017, and
13to adopt such rules not later than July 1, 2018.
14The bill defines “trauma-informed care” as services that are
15based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers
16of individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role
17trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize
18the presence of trauma symptoms and their onset, are supportive
19of trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization. The bill
20defines “postvention” as the provision of crisis intervention,
21support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or
22suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
-5-je/sc
2the department of education and requiring school employee
3training and protocols relating to suicide prevention and
4trauma-informed care and making an appropriation.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2017, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 33. Adopt rules to require school districts
4to adopt protocols for suicide prevention and postvention, as
5developed by the Iowa center for suicide prevention established
6in section 256.47.
7 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 256.47 Iowa center for suicide
8prevention.
91. For purposes of this section, unless the context
10otherwise requires:
11a. “Postvention” means the provision of crisis intervention,
12support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or
13suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
14b. “Trauma-informed care” means services that are based
15on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers of
16individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role
17trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize
18the presence and onset of trauma symptoms, are supportive of
19trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization.
202. The Iowa center for suicide prevention is established in
21the department to provide, in a coordinated and comprehensive
22way, ongoing support to Iowa’s schools relating to suicide
23prevention and trauma-informed care, in the form of
24information, resources, and evidence-based training content.
25It shall be the goal of the center that every student,
26regardless of where they reside in the state, have access
27to the same high-quality suicide prevention, intervention,
28and support resources. The department may employ personnel
29necessary to carry out the duties of the center.
303. The center shall have the initial responsibility of
31supporting schools with implementation of suicide prevention
32programs and development of trauma-informed learning
33environments, including but not limited to the following:
34a. Through collaboration with suicide prevention
35coordinators and initiatives across state departments, the
-1-1center shall lead a public-private coalition of state and
2local agencies, community groups, organizations including area
3education agencies, and individuals with the goal of supporting
4statewide suicide prevention, awareness, and intervention, and
5providing necessary resources for such efforts.
6b. The center shall adapt existing evidence-based suicide
7prevention and trauma-informed care training for school
8personnel, which training accounts for best practices and
9up-to-date research in these fields, to be provided pursuant to
10section 280.30. The center shall provide guidance and support
11to schools providing such training.
12c. The center shall develop evidence-based model protocols
13to assist schools in suicide prevention and postvention, to be
14adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 33.
15d. The center shall develop recommendations for
16social-emotional learning programs and supports for schools.
17e. The center shall encourage content developed by the
18center to be included in preservice teacher training.
194. The long-term responsibilities of the center shall
20include the following:
21a. Coordinating a comprehensive community effort of suicide
22prevention to identify and develop supports for students at
23risk of suicide.
24b. Adapting, reviewing, and improving evidence-based
25training on suicide prevention and trauma-informed care on an
26ongoing basis.
27c. Identifying unmet needs in school and community
28social-emotional learning supports.
29d. Supporting efforts by schools to provide suicide
30prevention and trauma-informed care for students.
31e. Through community involvement, identifying resources
32outside of a school setting for students identified as at risk
33for suicide.
34 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 280.30 Suicide prevention and
35trauma-informed care training.
-2- 11. By July 1, 2018, the board of directors of a school
2district shall integrate biennial, evidence-based training on
3suicide prevention for all school personnel who hold a license,
4certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition
5issued by the board of educational examiners and who have
6regular contact with students in grades six through twelve
7into the school district’s comprehensive school improvement
8plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 21. The
9content of the training shall be determined by the Iowa center
10for suicide prevention established in section 256.47.
112. By July 1, 2018, the board of directors of a school
12district shall integrate biennial, evidence-based training
13on trauma-informed care for all school personnel who hold
14a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of
15recognition issued by the board of educational examiners
16and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten
17through grade twelve into the school district’s comprehensive
18school improvement plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7,
19subsection 21. The content of the training shall be determined
20by the Iowa center for suicide prevention established in
21section 256.47.
22 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the
23general fund of the state to the department of education for
24the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30,
252018, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
26to be used for the purposes designated:
27For the establishment and administration of the Iowa
28center for suicide prevention, including salaries, support,
29maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
.................................................. $30500,000
31 Sec. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES. The state board of education
32shall submit a notice of intended action to the administrative
33rules coordinator and the administrative code editor pursuant
34to section 17A.4, subsection 1, not later than December 13,
352017, for the adoption of rules required by section 256.7,
-3-1subsection 33, as enacted by this Act. The board shall adopt
2such rules not later than July 1, 2018.
3EXPLANATION
4The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
5the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
6This bill establishes the Iowa center for suicide prevention
7in the department of education to provide, in a coordinated and
8comprehensive way, ongoing support to Iowa’s schools relating
9to suicide prevention and trauma-informed care, in the form of
10information, resources, and evidence-based training content.
11The goal of the center is that every student, regardless
12of where they reside in the state, have access to the same
13high-quality suicide prevention, intervention, and support
14resources. The department may employ personnel necessary to
15carry out the duties of the center.
16The bill provides that the center has the initial
17responsibility of supporting schools with implementation of
18suicide prevention programs and development of trauma-informed
19learning environments, including adaptation of existing
20evidence-based suicide prevention and trauma-informed
21care training for school personnel and development of
22evidence-based model protocols to assist schools in suicide
23prevention and postvention. The bill also provides long-term
24responsibilities of the center, including adapting, reviewing,
25and improving evidence-based training on suicide prevention and
26trauma-informed care on an ongoing basis and supporting efforts
27by schools to provide suicide prevention and trauma-informed
28care for students.
29The bill appropriates $500,000 from the general fund of
30the state to the department for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the
31establishment and administration of the center.
32The bill requires the board of directors of a school
33district to integrate biennial, evidence-based training on
34suicide prevention for all school personnel who hold a license,
35certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued
-4-1by the board of educational examiners and who have regular
2contact with students in grades six through 12 into the school
3district’s comprehensive school improvement plan by July 1,
42018. The content of the training shall be determined by the
5center. The bill provides a similar requirement for training
6on trauma-informed care for school personnel who have regular
7contact with students in kindergarten through grade 12.
8The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules
9to require school districts to adopt protocols for suicide
10prevention and postvention as developed by the center. The
11bill requires the board to submit a notice of intended action
12to begin such rulemaking no later than December 13, 2017, and
13to adopt such rules not later than July 1, 2018.
14The bill defines “trauma-informed care” as services that are
15based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers
16of individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role
17trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize
18the presence of trauma symptoms and their onset, are supportive
19of trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization. The bill
20defines “postvention” as the provision of crisis intervention,
21support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or
22suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
-5-je/sc