SB1793 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 09081 NHT 29271 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1793

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.163 new

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to (i) develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention policy; (ii) compile, develop, and post on its Internet website recommended guidelines and educational materials for professional educator training and recommended resources and age-appropriate educational materials on youth suicide awareness and prevention; and (iii) develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and make such curriculum available to all school districts and, upon request, to nonpublic schools. Requires each school board to (i) adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and prevention policy and (ii) require 4 hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention every 5 years for professional educators in school buildings serving students in any of grades 6 through 12. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.163 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.163 new)

Sec. 2-3.163. Youth suicide awareness and prevention.

(a) The State Board of Education shall do all of the following:

(1) In consultation with a youth suicide prevention organization operating in this State, develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention policy that is consistent with subsection (b) of this Section.

(2) Compile, develop, and post on its publicly accessible Internet website both of the following, which may include materials already publicly available:

(A) Recommended guidelines and educational materials for the training required under subsection (c) of this Section.

(B) Recommended resources and age-appropriate educational materials on youth suicide awareness and prevention.

(3) Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and make such curriculum available to all school districts and, upon request, to nonpublic schools. A school district may incorporate such curriculum into its existing instructional program pursuant to the school district's youth suicide awareness and prevention policy under subsection (c) of this Section.

(b) The model policy developed by the State Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section and any policy adopted by a school board under subsection (c) of this Section shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement on youth suicide awareness and prevention.

(2) Protocols for administering youth suicide awareness and prevention education to staff and students.

(3) Methods of prevention, including procedures for early identification and referral of students at risk of suicide.

(4) Methods of intervention, including procedures that address an emotional or mental health safety plan for students identified as being at increased risk of suicide.

(5) Methods of responding to a student or staff suicide or suicide attempt.

(6) Reporting procedures.

(7) Recommended resources on youth suicide awareness and prevention programs, including current contact information for such programs.

(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school board shall do both of the following:

(1) Adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and prevention policy consistent with subsection (b) of this Section, inform each school district employee and the parent or legal guardian of each student enrolled in the school district of such policy, and post such policy on the school district's publicly accessible Internet website. The policy adopted by a school board under this subdivision (1) may be based upon the model policy developed by the State Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section.

(2) Require 4 hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention every 5 years for professional educators in school buildings serving students in any of grades 6 through 12. Training under this subdivision (2) may be used to satisfy a professional educator's continuing professional development requirements. A school district may use the materials made available by the State Board of Education under subsection (b) of this Section to conduct such training.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.