Kentucky 2024 Regular Session

Kentucky House Bill HB36 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                            UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 1 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
AN ACT relating to student resiliency and well-being. 1 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 
SECTION 1.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO 3 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 
(1) The General Assembly hereby authorizes the establishment of the Center for 5 
Student Resiliency and Well-Being within the Kentucky Department of 6 
Education.  7 
(2) The Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being shall be responsible for: 8 
(a) Gathering the resiliency and well-being plans required by subsection (5) of 9 
Section 2 of this Act; 10 
(b) Collecting data on indicators of student mental and physical health status 11 
and changes to trends from previous data collection to target prevention and 12 
intervention strategies; 13 
(c) Coordinating technical assistance, professional development, and evidence-14 
based training of school staff on adverse childhood experiences, positive 15 
childhood experiences, prevention, and resiliency. Training shall be 16 
research or evidence-based and utilize existing resources such as the 17 
University of Kentucky Center on Trauma and Children, the Kentucky 18 
Department of Education, regional educational cooperatives, and 19 
community mental health centers and their regional prevention centers; 20 
(d) Monitoring the number and types of mental health professionals providing 21 
services in the schools and the progress being made toward reaching the 22 
goal specified in subsection (3) of Section 2 of this Act; and 23 
(e) Gathering, compiling, and comparing information from the 2020-2021 24 
school year and thereafter regarding Medicaid billing for school-based 25 
mental health services provided by school-based or contracted mental health 26 
providers. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 2 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(3) The Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being shall annually approve: 1 
(a) A work plan for the center; and 2 
(b) Policies as needed to operate. 3 
(4) The Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being shall collaborate with the 4 
Center for School Safety to develop model interagency agreements between local 5 
school districts and other local public agencies, including, among others, health 6 
departments, departments of social services, mental health agencies, and courts, 7 
in order to provide cooperative services and sharing of costs for services to 8 
students who are at risk of school failure, are at risk of mental health crises, are 9 
at risk of participation in juvenile crime, or have been expelled from the school 10 
district. 11 
Section 2.   KRS 158.4416 is amended to read as follows: 12 
(1) For purposes of this section: 13 
(a) "School counselor" means an individual who holds a valid school counselor 14 
certificate issued in accordance with the administrative regulations of the 15 
Education Professional Standards Board; 16 
(b) "School-based mental health services provider" means a licensed or certified 17 
school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or other qualified 18 
mental health professional as defined in KRS 202A.011; and 19 
(c) "Student resiliency and well-being approach" means assisting students to 20 
adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and even 21 
significant sources of stress, as described by the American Psychological 22 
Association. Student well-being has been considered by the National 23 
Institutes of Health as an enabling condition for successful learning in 24 
school and an essential outcome of education with students performing 25 
better at school and later on as adults by gaining employment, leading a 26 
socially engaged life, and contributing to society. Student resiliency and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 3 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
well-being in a school should foster a safe, stable, and understanding 1 
learning environment for all students and staff and ensure that all students 2 
are known well by at least one (1) adult in the school setting["Trauma-3 
informed approach" means incorporating principles of trauma awareness and 4 
trauma-informed practices, as recommended by the federal Substance Abuse 5 
and Mental Health Services Administration, in a school in order to foster a 6 
safe, stable, and understanding learning environment for all students and staff 7 
and ensuring that all students are known well by at least one (1) adult in the 8 
school setting]. 9 
(2) The General Assembly recognizes that all schools must provide a place for students 10 
to feel safe and supported to learn throughout the school day, and that any trauma a 11 
student may have experienced can have a significant impact on the ability of a 12 
student to learn. The General Assembly directs all public schools to adopt a student 13 
resiliency and well-being[trauma-informed] approach to education in order to 14 
better recognize, understand, and address the learning needs of students impacted 15 
by trauma and to foster a learning environment where all students, including those 16 
who have been traumatized, can be safe, successful, and known well by at least one 17 
(1) adult in the school setting. The requirements of this subsection shall apply to 18 
public charter schools as a health and safety requirement under KRS 19 
160.1592(1). 20 
(3) (a) Beginning July 1, 2021, or as funds and qualified personnel become available: 21 
1. Each school district and each public charter school shall employ at least 22 
one (1) school counselor in each school with the goal of the school 23 
counselor spending sixty percent (60%) or more of his or her time 24 
providing counseling and related services directly to students; and 25 
2. It shall be the goal that each school district and each public charter 26 
school shall provide at least one (1) school counselor or school-based 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 4 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
mental health services provider who is employed by the school district 1 
for every two hundred fifty (250) students, including but not limited to 2 
the school counselor required in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph. 3 
(b) A school counselor or school-based mental health services provider at each 4 
school shall facilitate the creation of a resiliency and well-being[trauma-5 
informed] team that[to identify and assist students whose learning, behavior, 6 
and relationships have been impacted by trauma. The trauma-informed team] 7 
may consist of school administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, 8 
school social workers, school-based mental health services providers, 9 
community-based mental health services providers, family resource and 10 
youth services coordinators, school nurses, school resource officers, and any 11 
other school or district personnel. 12 
(c) The resiliency and well-being team shall: 13 
1. Identify and assist students whose learning, behavior, and 14 
relationships have been impacted by trauma; 15 
2. Identify ways to prevent mental health issues and build resiliency in 16 
all students; 17 
3. Compile a record of its activities during the course of the school year 18 
to be used in the annual Comprehensive School Improvement Plan 19 
process required by 703 KAR 5:225; and  20 
4. Submit the record created in accordance with subparagraph 3. of this 21 
paragraph to the Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being 22 
established in Section 1 of this Act. 23 
(d)[(c)] Each school counselor or school-based mental health services provider 24 
providing services pursuant to this section, and the resiliency and well-25 
being[trauma-informed] team members described in paragraph (b) of this 26 
subsection, shall provide training, guidance, and assistance to other 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 5 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
administrators, teachers, and staff on: 1 
1. Recognizing barriers to resiliency and well-being[symptoms of trauma] 2 
in students; 3 
2. Utilizing interventions and strategies to support the learning needs of 4 
those students; and 5 
3. Implementing the resiliency and well-being plan required[a plan for a 6 
trauma-informed approach as described] in subsection (5) of this 7 
section. 8 
(e)[(d)] 1. School districts may employ or contract for the services of school-9 
based mental health services providers to assist with the development 10 
and implementation of a student resiliency and well-being[trauma-11 
informed] approach and the development of a resiliency and well-12 
being[trauma-informed] team pursuant to this subsection and to enhance 13 
or expand student mental health support services as funds and qualified 14 
personnel become available. 15 
2. School-based mental health services providers may provide services 16 
through a collaboration between two (2) or more school districts or 17 
between school districts and educational cooperatives or any other 18 
public or private entities, including but not limited to local or regional 19 
mental health day treatment programs. 20 
(f)[(e)] No later than November 1 of each year,[ 2022, and each subsequent 21 
year,] the local school district superintendent shall report to the Center for 22 
Student Resiliency and Well-Being[department] the number of school-based 23 
mental health service providers, the position held, placement in the district, 24 
certification or licensure held, the source of funding for each position, a 25 
summary of the job duties and work undertaken by each school-based mental 26 
health service provider, and the approximate percent of time devoted to each 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 6 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
duty over the course of the year. 1 
(g)[(f)] The Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being[department] shall 2 
annually compile and maintain a list of school-based mental health service 3 
providers by district which shall include the information required in paragraph 4 
(f)[(e)] of this subsection. 5 
(h)[(g)] No later than June 1 of each year, [2023, and each subsequent year, ]the 6 
Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being[department] shall provide the 7 
Interim Joint Committee on Education with the information reported by local 8 
school district superintendents and compiled in accordance with paragraph 9 
(g)[(f)] of this subsection. 10 
(4) [On or before July 1, 2020, ]The Center for Student Resiliency and Well-11 
Being[Department of Education] shall make available a toolkit that includes 12 
guidance, strategies, behavioral interventions, practices, and techniques to assist 13 
school districts and public charter schools in developing a student resiliency and 14 
well-being[trauma-informed] approach in schools. 15 
(5) [On or before July 1, 2021, ]Each local board of education and board of a public 16 
charter school shall develop a plan for implementing a student resiliency and well-17 
being[trauma-informed] approach in its schools. The plan shall include but not be 18 
limited to strategies for: 19 
(a) Enhancing student resiliency and well-being[trauma awareness] throughout 20 
the school community; 21 
(b) Conducting an assessment of the school climate, including but not limited to 22 
inclusiveness and respect for diversity; 23 
(c) Developing student resiliency and well-being[trauma-informed] discipline 24 
policies; 25 
(d) Collaborating with the Department of Kentucky State Police, the local sheriff, 26 
and the local chief of police to create procedures for notification of trauma-27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 7 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
exposed students; and 1 
(e) Providing services and programs designed to reduce the negative impact of 2 
trauma, support critical learning, and foster a positive and safe school 3 
environment for every student that builds resilience and well-being. 4 
(6) The resiliency and well-being plan developed in accordance with subsection (5) of 5 
this section shall be reviewed and updated annually, incorporated into the annual 6 
Comprehensive District Improvement Plan required by 703 KAR 5:225, and 7 
submitted to the Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being established in 8 
Section 1 of this Act. 9 
Section 3.   KRS 158.4414 is amended to read as follows: 10 
(1) Local boards of education, school district superintendents, administrators of state-11 
controlled facilities, and local and state law enforcement agencies shall cooperate to 12 
assign, by August 1, 2022, one (1) or more certified school resource officers to 13 
serve each campus where one (1) or more school buildings are used to deliver 14 
instruction to students on a continuous basis. 15 
(2) Local boards of education shall ensure, for each campus in the district, that at least 16 
one (1) certified school resource officer is assigned to and working on-site full-time 17 
in the school building or buildings on the campus. If sufficient funds and qualified 18 
personnel are not available for this purpose for every campus, the local board of 19 
education shall fulfill the requirements of this subsection on a per campus basis, as 20 
approved in writing by the state school security marshal, until a certified school 21 
resource officer is assigned to and working on-site full-time on each campus in the 22 
district. 23 
(3) Local boards of education utilizing a school resource officer employed by a law 24 
enforcement agency or the Department of Kentucky State Police shall enter into a 25 
memorandum of understanding with the law enforcement agency or the Department 26 
of Kentucky State Police that specifically states the purpose of the school resource 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 8 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
officer program and clearly defines the roles and expectations of each party 1 
involved in the program. The memorandum shall provide that the school resource 2 
officer shall not be responsible for school discipline matters that are the 3 
responsibility of school administrators or school employees. 4 
(4) Local boards of education utilizing a school resource officer employed directly by 5 
the local board of education shall adopt policies and procedures that specifically 6 
state the purpose of the school resource officer program and clearly define the roles 7 
and expectations of school resource officers and other school employees. 8 
(5) In accordance with KRS 61.926, 527.020, and 527.070, as applicable, each school 9 
resource officer shall be armed with a firearm, notwithstanding any provision of 10 
local board policy, local school council policy, or memorandum of agreement. 11 
(6) On or before January 1, 2020, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, in 12 
collaboration with the Center for School Safety, shall promulgate administrative 13 
regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish three (3) levels of 14 
training for certification of school resource officers first employed as a school 15 
resource officer on or after March 11, 2019: School Resource Officer Training I 16 
(SRO I), School Resource Officer Training II (SRO II), and School Resource 17 
Officer Training III (SRO III). Each level shall consist of forty (40) hours of 18 
training, with SRO I to be completed within one (1) year of the date of the officer's 19 
employment and SRO II and SRO III within the subsequent two (2) years. 20 
(7) Course curriculum for school resource officers employed on or after March 11, 21 
2019, shall include but not be limited to: 22 
(a) Foundations of school-based law enforcement; 23 
(b) Threat assessment and response; 24 
(c) Youth drug use and abuse; 25 
(d) Social media and cyber security; 26 
(e) School resource officers as teachers and mentors; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 9 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(f) Youth mental health awareness; 1 
(g) Diversity and bias awareness training; 2 
(h) Student resiliency and well-being[Trauma-informed] action; 3 
(i) Understanding students with special needs; and 4 
(j) De-escalation strategies. 5 
(8) Effective January 1, 2020, all school resource officers with active school resource 6 
officer certification status shall successfully complete forty (40) hours of annual in-7 
service training that has been certified or recognized by the Kentucky Law 8 
Enforcement Council for school resource officers. 9 
(9) In the event of extenuating circumstances beyond the control of an officer that 10 
prevent the officer from completing the in-service training within one (1) year, the 11 
commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or a designee may 12 
grant the officer an extension of time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, 13 
in which to complete the training. 14 
(10) Any school resource officer who fails to successfully complete training 15 
requirements within the specified time periods, including any approved time 16 
extensions, shall lose his or her school resource officer certification and shall no 17 
longer serve in the capacity of a school resource officer in a school. 18 
(11) When a school resource officer is deficient in required training, the commissioner 19 
of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or his or her designee shall notify 20 
the council, which shall notify the officer and the officer's employing agency. 21 
(12) A school resource officer who has lost school resource officer certification due 22 
solely to the officer's failure to meet the training requirements of this section may 23 
regain certification status as a school resource officer and may resume service in the 24 
capacity of a school resource officer in a school setting upon successful completion 25 
of the training deficiency. 26 
(13) No later than November 1 of each year, the local school district superintendent shall 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 10 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
report to the Center for School Safety the number and placement of school resource 1 
officers in the district. The report shall include the source of funding and method of 2 
employment for each position. 3 
(14) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted or construed to require a local 4 
government or any of its agencies or offices to fund the school resource officer 5 
positions required of local boards of education under this section. For purposes of 6 
this subsection, "local government" has the same meaning as in KRS 65.8840. 7 
(15) Nothing in this section shall prevent a private or parochial school from entering into 8 
a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency or the 9 
Department of Kentucky State Police to provide school resource officers employed 10 
by the local law enforcement agency or the Department of Kentucky State Police. 11 
Section 4.   KRS 158.191 is amended to read as follows: 12 
(1) As used in this section: 13 
(a) "External health care provider" means a provider of health or mental health 14 
services that is not employed by or contracted with the school district to 15 
provide services to the district's students; 16 
(b) "Health services" has the same meaning as in KRS 156.502; 17 
(c) "Mental health services" means services provided by a school-based mental 18 
health services provider as defined in KRS 158.4416 but shall not include 19 
academic or career counseling; and 20 
(d) "Parent" means a person who has legal custody or control of the student such 21 
as a mother, father, or guardian. 22 
(2) Upon a student's enrollment and at the beginning of each school year, the district 23 
shall provide a notification to the student's parents listing each of the health services 24 
and mental health services related to human sexuality, contraception, or family 25 
planning available at the student's school and of the parents' right to withhold 26 
consent or decline any of those specific services. A parent's consent to a health 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 11 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
service or mental health service under this subsection shall not waive the parent's 1 
right to access the student's educational or health records held by the district or the 2 
notifications required under subsection (3) of this section. 3 
(3) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, as part of a school district's 4 
effort to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for students, a school 5 
shall notify a student's parents if: 6 
(a) The school changes the health services or mental health services related to 7 
human sexuality, contraception, or family planning that it provides, and shall 8 
obtain parental consent prior to providing health services or mental health 9 
services to the student; or 10 
(b) School personnel make a referral: 11 
1. For the student to receive a school's health services or mental health 12 
services; or 13 
2. To an external health care provider, for which parental consent shall be 14 
obtained prior to the referral being made. 15 
(4) School districts and district personnel shall respect the rights of parents to make 16 
decisions regarding the upbringing and control of the student through procedures 17 
encouraging students to discuss mental or physical health or life issues with their 18 
parents or through facilitating the discussion with their parents. 19 
(5) (a) The Kentucky Board of Education or the Kentucky Department of Education 20 
shall not require or recommend that a local school district keep any student 21 
information confidential from a student's parents. A district or school shall not 22 
adopt policies or procedures with the intent of keeping any student 23 
information confidential from parents. 24 
(b) The Kentucky Board of Education or the Kentucky Department of Education 25 
shall not require or recommend policies or procedures for the use of pronouns 26 
that do not conform to a student's biological sex as indicated on the student's 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 12 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
original, unedited birth certificate issued at the time of birth pursuant to KRS 1 
156.070(2)(g)2. 2 
(c) A local school district shall not require school personnel or students to use 3 
pronouns for students that do not conform to that particular student's 4 
biological sex as referenced in paragraph (b) of this subsection. 5 
(d) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a school district or district personnel 6 
from withholding information from a parent if a reasonably prudent person 7 
would believe, based on previous conduct and history, that the disclosure 8 
would result in the child becoming a dependent child or an abused or 9 
neglected child as defined in KRS 600.020. The fact that district personnel 10 
withhold information from a parent under this subsection shall not in itself 11 
constitute evidence of failure to report dependency, neglect, or abuse to the 12 
Cabinet for Health and Family Services under KRS 620.030. 13 
(6) Prior to a well-being questionnaire or assessment, or a health screening form being 14 
given to a child for research purposes, a school district shall provide the student's 15 
parent with access to review the material and an opportunity to decline the 16 
student's participation[ and shall obtain parental consent. Parental consent shall not 17 
be a general consent to these assessments or forms but shall be required for each 18 
assessment or form. A parent's refusal to consent shall not be an indicator of having 19 
a belief regarding the topic of the assessment or form]. 20 
(7) Nothing in this section shall: 21 
(a) Prohibit a school district or the district's personnel from seeking or providing 22 
emergency medical or mental health services for a student as outlined in the 23 
district's policies; or 24 
(b) Remove the duty to report pursuant to KRS 620.030 if district personnel has 25 
reasonable cause to believe the child is a dependent child or an abused or 26 
neglected child due to the risk of physical or emotional injury identified in 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 13 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
KRS 600.020(1)(a)2. or as otherwise provided in that statute. 1 
Section 5.   KRS 156.095 is amended to read as follows: 2 
(1) The Kentucky Department of Education shall establish, direct, and maintain a 3 
statewide program of professional development to improve instruction in the public 4 
schools. 5 
(2) Each local school district superintendent shall appoint a certified school employee 6 
to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a professional development coordinator 7 
who shall disseminate professional development information to schools and 8 
personnel. Upon request by a school council or any employees of the district, the 9 
coordinator shall provide technical assistance to the council or the personnel that 10 
may include assisting with needs assessments, analyzing school data, planning and 11 
evaluation assistance, organizing districtwide programs requested by school 12 
councils or groups of teachers, or other coordination activities. 13 
(a) The manner of appointment, qualifications, and other duties of the 14 
professional development coordinator shall be established by Kentucky Board 15 
of Education through promulgation of administrative regulations. 16 
(b) The local district professional development coordinator shall participate in the 17 
Kentucky Department of Education annual training program for local school 18 
district professional development coordinators. The training program may 19 
include, but not be limited to, the demonstration of various approaches to 20 
needs assessment and planning; strategies for implementing long-term, 21 
school-based professional development; strategies for strengthening teachers' 22 
roles in the planning, development, and evaluation of professional 23 
development; and demonstrations of model professional development 24 
programs. The training shall include information about teacher learning 25 
opportunities relating to the core content standards. The Kentucky Department 26 
of Education shall regularly collect and distribute this information. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 14 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(3) The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide or facilitate optional, 1 
professional development programs for certified personnel throughout the 2 
Commonwealth that are based on the statewide needs of teachers, administrators, 3 
and other education personnel. Programs may include classified staff and parents 4 
when appropriate. Programs offered or facilitated by the department shall be at 5 
locations and times convenient to local school personnel and shall be made 6 
accessible through the use of technology when appropriate. They shall include 7 
programs that: address the goals for Kentucky schools as stated in KRS 158.6451, 8 
including reducing the achievement gaps as determined by an equity analysis of the 9 
disaggregated student performance data from the state assessment program 10 
developed under KRS 158.6453; engage educators in effective learning processes 11 
and foster collegiality and collaboration; and provide support for staff to 12 
incorporate newly acquired skills into their work through practicing the skills, 13 
gathering information about the results, and reflecting on their efforts. Professional 14 
development programs shall be made available to teachers based on their needs 15 
which shall include but not be limited to the following areas: 16 
(a) Strategies to reduce the achievement gaps among various groups of students 17 
and to provide continuous progress; 18 
(b) Curriculum content and methods of instruction for each content area, 19 
including differentiated instruction; 20 
(c) School-based decision making; 21 
(d) Assessment literacy; 22 
(e) Integration of performance-based student assessment into daily classroom 23 
instruction; 24 
(f) Nongraded primary programs; 25 
(g) Research-based instructional practices; 26 
(h) Instructional uses of technology; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 15 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(i) Curriculum design to serve the needs of students with diverse learning styles 1 
and skills and of students of diverse cultures; 2 
(j) Instruction in reading, including phonics, phonemic awareness, 3 
comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary; 4 
(k) Educational leadership; and 5 
(l) Strategies to incorporate character education throughout the curriculum. 6 
(4) The department shall assist school personnel in assessing the impact of professional 7 
development on their instructional practices and student learning. 8 
(5) The department shall assist districts and school councils with the development of 9 
long-term school and district improvement plans that include multiple strategies for 10 
professional development based on the assessment of needs at the school level. 11 
(a) Professional development strategies may include but are not limited to 12 
participation in subject matter academies, teacher networks, training institutes, 13 
workshops, seminars, and study groups; collegial planning; action research; 14 
mentoring programs; appropriate university courses; and other forms of 15 
professional development. 16 
(b) In planning the use of the four (4) days for professional development under 17 
KRS 158.070, school councils and districts shall give priority to programs that 18 
increase teachers' understanding of curriculum content and methods of 19 
instruction appropriate for each content area based on individual school plans. 20 
The district may use up to one (1) day to provide district-wide training and 21 
training that is mandated by state or federal law. Only those employees 22 
identified in the mandate or affected by the mandate shall be required to 23 
attend the training. 24 
(c) State funds allocated for professional development shall be used to support 25 
professional development initiatives that are consistent with local school 26 
improvement and professional development plans and teachers' individual 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 16 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
growth plans. The funds may be used throughout the year for all staff, 1 
including classified and certified staff and parents on school councils or 2 
committees. A portion of the funds allocated to each school council under 3 
KRS 160.345 may be used to prepare or enhance the teachers' knowledge and 4 
teaching practices related to the content and subject matter that are required 5 
for their specific classroom assignments. 6 
(6) (a) [By August 1, 2010, ]The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services 7 
shall post on its web page evidence-based suicide prevention awareness 8 
information, to include recognizing the warning signs of a suicide crisis. The 9 
web page shall include information related to suicide prevention training 10 
opportunities offered by the cabinet or an agency recognized by the cabinet as 11 
a training provider. 12 
(b) [By September 15 of each year, ]Every public school and public charter 13 
school shall provide two evidence-based suicide prevention awareness lessons 14 
each school year, the first by September 15 and the second by January 15, 15 
either[information] in person, by live streaming, or via a video recording to 16 
all students in grades six (6) through twelve (12). Every public school should 17 
provide an opportunity for any student absent on the day the evidence-based 18 
suicide prevention awareness lesson was initially presented to receive the 19 
lesson at a later time. The information may be obtained from the Cabinet for 20 
Health and Family Services or from a commercially developed suicide 21 
prevention training program. 22 
(c) 1. Each school year[Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, and every 23 
year thereafter], a minimum of one (1) hour of high-quality evidence-24 
based suicide prevention training, including risk factors, warning signs, 25 
protective factors, response procedures, referral, postvention, and the 26 
recognition of signs and symptoms of possible mental illness, shall be 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 17 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
required for all school district employees with job duties requiring direct 1 
contact with students in grades four (4)[six (6)] through twelve (12). 2 
The training shall be provided either in person, by live streaming, or via 3 
a video recording and may be included in the four (4) days of 4 
professional development under KRS 158.070. 5 
2. When a staff member subject to the training under subparagraph 1. of 6 
this paragraph is initially hired during a school year in which the 7 
training is not required, the local district shall provide suicide prevention 8 
materials to the staff member for review. 9 
(d) The requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection shall apply to 10 
public charter schools as a health and safety requirement under KRS 11 
160.1592(1). 12 
(7) (a) By November 1 of each year, [2019, and November 1 of each year 13 
thereafter,] a minimum of one (1) hour of training on how to respond to an 14 
active shooter situation shall be required for all school district employees with 15 
job duties requiring direct contact with students. The training shall be 16 
provided either in person, by live streaming, or via a video recording prepared 17 
by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in collaboration 18 
with the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, the Kentucky Department of 19 
Education, and the Center for School Safety and may be included in the four 20 
(4) days of professional development under KRS 158.070. 21 
(b) When a staff member subject to the training requirements of this subsection is 22 
initially hired after the training has been provided for the school year, the 23 
local district shall provide materials on how to respond to an active shooter 24 
situation. 25 
(c) The requirements of this subsection shall also apply to public charter schools 26 
as a health and safety requirement under KRS 160.1592(1). 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 18 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(8) (a) The Kentucky Department of Education shall develop and maintain a list of 1 
approved comprehensive evidence-informed trainings on child abuse and 2 
neglect prevention, recognition, and reporting that encompass child physical, 3 
sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. 4 
(b) The trainings shall be web-based or in-person and cover, at a minimum, the 5 
following topics: 6 
1. Recognizing child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect; 7 
2. Reporting suspected child abuse and neglect in Kentucky as required by 8 
KRS 620.030 and the appropriate documentation; 9 
3. Responding to the child; and 10 
4. Understanding the response of child protective services. 11 
(c) The trainings shall include a questionnaire or other basic assessment tool upon 12 
completion to document basic knowledge of training components. 13 
(d) Each local board of education shall adopt one (1) or more trainings from the 14 
list approved by the Department of Education to be implemented by schools. 15 
(e) [All current school administrators, certified personnel, office staff, 16 
instructional assistants, and coaches and extracurricular sponsors who are 17 
employed by the school district shall complete the implemented training or 18 
trainings by January 31, 2017, and then every two (2) years after. 19 
(f) ]All school administrators, certified personnel, office staff, instructional 20 
assistants, and coaches and extracurricular sponsors who are employed by the 21 
school district [hired after January 31, 2017, ]shall complete the implemented 22 
training or trainings within ninety (90) days of being hired and then every two 23 
(2) years after. 24 
(f)[(g)] Every public school shall prominently display the statewide child abuse 25 
hotline number administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 26 
and the National Human Trafficking Reporting Hotline number administered 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 19 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
by the United States Department for Health and Human Services. 1 
(g) The requirements of this subsection shall also apply to public charter 2 
schools as a health and safety requirement under KRS 160.1592(1). 3 
(9) The Department of Education shall establish an electronic consumer bulletin board 4 
that posts information regarding professional development providers and programs 5 
as a service to school district central office personnel, school councils, teachers, and 6 
administrators. Participation on the electronic consumer bulletin board shall be 7 
voluntary for professional development providers or vendors, but shall include all 8 
programs sponsored by the department. Participants shall provide the following 9 
information: program title; name of provider or vendor; qualifications of the 10 
presenters or instructors; objectives of the program; program length; services 11 
provided, including follow-up support; costs for participation and costs of 12 
materials; names of previous users of the program, addresses, and telephone 13 
numbers; and arrangements required. Posting information on the bulletin board by 14 
the department shall not be viewed as an endorsement of the quality of any specific 15 
provider or program. 16 
(10) The Department of Education shall provide training to address the characteristics 17 
and instructional needs of students at risk of school failure and most likely to drop 18 
out of school. The training shall be developed to meet the specific needs of all 19 
certified and classified personnel depending on their relationship with these 20 
students. The training for instructional personnel shall be designed to provide and 21 
enhance skills of personnel to: 22 
(a) Identify at-risk students early in elementary schools as well as at-risk and 23 
potential dropouts in the middle and high schools; 24 
(b) Plan specific instructional strategies to teach at-risk students; 25 
(c) Improve the academic achievement of students at risk of school failure by 26 
providing individualized and extra instructional support to increase 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 20 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
expectations for targeted students; 1 
(d) Involve parents as partners in ways to help their children and to improve their 2 
children's academic progress; and 3 
(e) Significantly reduce the dropout rate of all students. 4 
(11) The department shall establish teacher academies to the extent funding is available 5 
in cooperation with postsecondary education institutions for elementary, middle 6 
school, and high school faculty in core disciplines, utilizing facilities and faculty 7 
from universities and colleges, local school districts, and other appropriate agencies 8 
throughout the state. Priority for participation shall be given to those teachers who 9 
are teaching core discipline courses for which they do not have a major or minor or 10 
the equivalent. Participation of teachers shall be voluntary. 11 
(12) The department shall annually provide to the oversight council established in KRS 12 
15A.063, the information received from local schools pursuant to KRS 158.449. 13 
Section 6.   KRS 158.443 is amended to read as follows: 14 
(1) Each nonstate-government employee member of the board of directors for the 15 
Center for School Safety shall serve a term of four (4) years or until his or her 16 
successor is duly qualified. A member may be reappointed, but shall not serve more 17 
than two (2) consecutive terms. 18 
(2) The members who are nonstate-government employees shall be reimbursed for 19 
travel, meals, and lodging and expenses relating to official duties of the board from 20 
funds appropriated for this purpose. 21 
(3) The board of directors shall meet a minimum of four (4) times per year. The board 22 
of directors shall be attached to the Office of the Secretary of the Education and 23 
Labor Cabinet for administrative purposes. 24 
(4) The board of directors shall annually elect a chair and vice chair from the 25 
membership. The board may form committees as needed. 26 
(5) The board of directors shall appoint an executive director for the Center for School 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 21 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
Safety and establish all positions for appointment by the executive director. 1 
(6) Using a request-for-proposal process, the board of directors shall select a public 2 
university or a nonprofit education entity to administer the Center for School Safety 3 
for a period of not less than four (4) years unless funds for the center are not 4 
appropriated or the board determines that the administrator for the center is 5 
negligent in carrying out its duties as specified in the request for proposal and 6 
contract. The administrator for the center shall be the fiscal agent for the center and: 7 
(a) Receive funds based on the approved budget by the board of directors and the 8 
General Assembly's appropriation for the center. The center shall operate 9 
within the fiscal policies of the administrator of the center and in compliance 10 
with policies established by the board of directors per the request for proposal 11 
and contract; and 12 
(b) Employ the staff of the center who shall have the retirement and employee 13 
benefits granted other similar employees of the administrator of the center. 14 
(7) The board of directors shall annually approve: 15 
(a) A work plan for the center; 16 
(b) A budget for the center; 17 
(c) Operating policies as needed; and 18 
(d) Recommendations for grants to local school districts and schools to assist in 19 
the development of programs and individualized approaches to work with 20 
violent, disruptive, or academically at-risk students, and consistent with 21 
provisions of KRS 158.445. 22 
(8) The board of directors shall prepare a biennial budget request to support the Center 23 
for School Safety and to provide program funds for local school district grants. 24 
(9) The board of directors shall additionally: 25 
(a) Approve a school safety coordinator training program developed by the 26 
Center for School Safety in accordance with KRS 158.442; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	24 RS BR 979 
Page 22 of 22 
XXXX   12/20/2023 9:19 AM  	Jacketed 
(b) Approve a school security risk assessment tool and updates as necessary in 1 
accordance with KRS 158.4410 to be incorporated by reference within an 2 
administrative regulation promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A; 3 
and 4 
(c) Within one (1) year of March 11, 2019, review the organizational structure 5 
and operations of the Center for School Safety and provide recommendations, 6 
as needed, for improvements in its organizational and operational 7 
performance. 8 
(10) The board shall collaborate with the Center for Student Resiliency and Well-9 
Being established in Section 1 of this Act to develop model interagency 10 
agreements between local school districts and other local public agencies, 11 
including, among others, health departments, departments of social services, mental 12 
health agencies, and courts, in order to provide cooperative services and sharing of 13 
costs for services to students who are at risk of school failure, are at risk of 14 
participation in juvenile crime, or have been expelled from the school district. 15