Req. No. 1700 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 21 By: Floyd COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 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 a wareness 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: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 333, O. S.L. 2014 (70 O.S. Supp. 20 20, Section 24-100.7), is amended to read as follows: Section 24-100.7. A. The board of educatio n of each school district in this state may shall adopt a policy regarding suic ide awareness and training , requiring staff training and the reporting of student drug abuse. Req. No. 1700 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. The board of educat ion of each school district in this state may shall provide schoolwide district-wide training to all students in grades seven thro ugh twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The Department of Mental Health an d Substance Abuse Services shall develop and make available to school districts curriculum for staff which addresses suicide awareness and prevention, without cost t o the school districts . The course outline for the curriculum shall be made available to the public online through the school district webs ite. Beginning with the 2014-2015 2021-2022 school year, every school district may shall: 1. Provide a suicide pre vention training progr am 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 t he Department of Mental Hea lth and Substance Abuse Services to students and school district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The tra ining program may be combined with any other training provided by the school district addressing bull ying prevention. C. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, th e board of education of each school district may provide training to address Req. No. 1700 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 telep hone number, law enforcement or the Department of Hu man 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 o f a violent act; 2. Providing referral, emergenc y medical care or other assistance offered in good f aith 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 pr oviders. D. E. No person shall have a cau se 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 miscond uct. E. F. The training required pursuant to this section, or the lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any s pecific duty of care. Req. No. 1700 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. G. School districts may en ter into agreements with designated Youth Services A gencies for the provision of interventi on and prevention services. G. H. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators , or other school personnel, upon de termining that a student is at risk of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardian s of the student immediately upon deter mining that such risk exists. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary fo r the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 58-1-1700 EB 3/3/2021 5:03:19 PM