2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 50
BY SENATOR FIELDS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the state Department of Education to identify no cost and low cost
evidence-based training providers for students regarding social inclusion, violence
prevention, and suicide prevention, and to submit a written report of its findings to
the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education no later
than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
WHEREAS, the safety of young people and maintaining safe school environments
is of primary importance to Louisiana and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth
Risk Behavior Survey, 12.4% of Louisiana students surveyed reported being threatened or
injured on school property with a weapon, 19.3% were bullied on school property, 15% were
cyber-bullied, 10.6% reported being involved in a physical fight on school property, and
15% reported physical dating violence; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's suicide rate is higher than the national average; and
WHEREAS, suicide is the leading cause of violence-related death for Louisiana
youth ages 10 to 14, and the second leading cause thereafter; and
WHEREAS, in the majority of instances, students display warning signs or signals
before taking harmful action; and
WHEREAS, reporting these signals ahead of time and to the appropriate entity can
prevent violence and save lives; and
WHEREAS, the legislature acknowledges the importance of reporting youth violence
in R.S. 17:416.13, relative to recognition and reporting of bullying, and R. S. 17:410, relative
to the recognition and reporting of threats to safety in schools; and
WHEREAS, the legislature currently requires in-service training regarding violence
prevention and suicide prevention for teachers, administrators, and other staff in R.S.
17:437.1, but has no requirements to instruct students; and
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WHEREAS, peer intervention training is a national best practice that is critically
important to social inclusion and violence prevention; and
WHEREAS, using evidence-based practices is fundamental to the effectiveness of
educational training.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the state Department of Education to identify no cost and low cost
evidence-based training providers for students regarding social inclusion, violence
prevention, and suicide prevention and to submit a written report of its findings to the Senate
Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education no later than sixty days
prior to the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include information from school
districts on currently used training providers and their capabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include considerations of the
evidence-based principles used by the identified providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall also identify public and
private grant funding opportunities to provide further training.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall solicit the input,
recommendations, and advice of the following:
(1) The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, or his designee.
(2) The chairperson of the House Committee on Education, or his designee.
(3) The president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, or his designee.
(4) The executive director of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, or
his designee.
(5) The president of the Louisiana Association of Educators, or his designee.
(6) The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, or his
designee.
(7) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents,
or his designee.
(8) The president of the Louisiana chapter of the National Association on Mental
Illness, or his designee.
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(9) Other agencies, individuals, or organizations engaged in youth violence
prevention and suicide prevention work, as considered relevant by the department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state superintendent of education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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