Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Adopt Protocols Designed To Prevent Youth Suicide

Sec. 1. Suicide prevention protocols. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall adopt for schools protocols designed to help prevent youth suicide. The protocols must include a process for a school to follow when the school is made aware that a student made a suicidal comment or has otherwise been identified as suicidal. The process must include without limitation:

1. Notifying the parent or legal guardian of the student, law enforcement and the student's mental health or health care provider;

2. In accordance with privacy provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, interviewing the parent or legal guardian of the student and requiring the student to meet with a mental health or health care provider;

3. Allowing the student to attend school only after the student's mental health or health care provider determines the student is not at risk of self-harm; and

4. Regular follow-up with the student by a school counselor and a mental health or health care provider.

The department may report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters any recommended legislation relating to the protocols, and the joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature based on the report.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Department of Education to adopt for schools protocols designed to help prevent youth suicide. It authorizes the department to report any recommended legislation relating to the protocols to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and authorizes the joint standing committee to report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature based on the report.