Researcher: JC Page 1 3/9/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6111
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION
TRAINING PROGRAM.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Youth Suicide Advisory Board (YSAB) and the
Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to jointly administer an evidence-
based youth suicide prevention training program in each health
district in the state.
The bill requires district health directors to determine eligibility
criteria for program participants, who must be from certain groups of
employees or volunteers, such as school employees. The program must
be offered by July 1, 2022, and at least once every three years
afterward.
Under the bill, the training program must provide certification in
QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Initiative Gatekeeper Training
(see BACKGROUND). Participants who complete the program and
obtain certification may then provide the training to others while their
certification is valid.
Lastly, the bill allows (1) YSAB and OCA to contract with a
nongovernmental entity that provides evidence-based suicide
prevention training to help administer the program and (2) school
employees to participate in the training program as part of an in-
service training program already required by law.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILITY
Under the bill, program participants must be from the following
groups within each health district: 2021HB-06111-R000019-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JC Page 2 3/9/21
1. local health department employees,
2. youth service bureau employees,
3. school employees,
4. municipal social service agency employees,
5. youth-serving organization employees and volunteers,
6. youth athletic activity employees and volunteers,
7. paid municipal or volunteer fire department members, and
8. local police department members.
BACKGROUND
QPR Initiative Gatekeeper Training
QPR Initiative Gatekeeper Training participants become
"gatekeepers" trained to (1) recognize early signs of a suicidal crisis, (2)
talk to someone about suicidal thoughts and feelings, and (3) provide
early intervention and referral to local resources.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
COMMITTEE ACTION
Committee on Children
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 11 Nay 2 (02/25/2021)