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ENGROSSED SENATE

BILL NO. 21By: Floyd and Stephens of the

Senate

and

McEntire of the House

An Act relating to schools; amending Section 1,

Chapter 333, O.S.L. 2014 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section

24-100.7), which relates to suicide awareness and

drug abuse policies; requiring rather than allowing

school district boards of education to adopt certain

policy; requiring boards of education to provide

certain staff training; directing certain curriculum

be made available to staff; requiring school

districts to provide certain training and curriculum

beginning in certain school year; allowing certain

training of students in certain grades beginning in

certain school year; providing an effective date; and

declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

2014 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 24-100.7), is amended to read as

follows:

Section 24-100.7. A. The board of education of each school

district in this state may shall adopt a policy regarding suicide

awareness and training, requiring staff training and the reporting

of student drug abuse.

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B.The board of education of each school district in this state may shall provide schoolwide district-wide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff on a biennial basis addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall develop and make available to school districts curriculum for staff which addresses suicide awareness and prevention, without cost to the school districts. The course outline for the curriculum shall be made available to the public online through the school district website. Beginning with the 2014-2015 2021-2022 school year, every school district may shall:

1.Provide a suicide prevention training program which includes as a core element research-based evidence-based approaches and that is developed by the school district;

2.Provide the curriculum made available by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; or

3.Provide a suicide prevention training program that is selected by the school district from a list maintained by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to students and school district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The training program may be combined with any other training provided by the school district addressing bullying prevention.

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C.Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the board of education of each school district may provide training to address suicide awareness and prevention to students in grades seven through twelve.

D.Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators and other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline and any civil liability for:

1.Calling the 911 emergency telephone number, law enforcement or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act;

2.Providing referral, emergency medical care or other assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or

3.Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or alcohol abuse or a potential safety threat by or to any student to the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement officers or health care providers.

D. E. No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of this section or resulting from any training, or lack thereof, required by this section, unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

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E. F. The training required pursuant to this section, or the

lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of

care.

F.School districts G. The board of education of each school district may enter into agreements with designated Youth Services Agencies for the provision of intervention and prevention services.

G.H. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or other school personnel, upon determining that a student is at risk of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardians of the student immediately upon determining that such risk exists.

SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

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Passed the Senate the 9th day of March, 2021.

Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,

2021.

Presiding Officer of the House

of Representatives