1     
SUICIDE PREVENTION AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

6     Cosponsor:
Justin L. Fawson

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill amends provisions related to suicide prevention.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     amends State Board of Education and Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
14     Health program components for suicide prevention; and
15          ▸     amends interim committee reporting requirements.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2015:
18          ▸     to State Board of Education - Office of Education, as a one-time appropriation:
19               •     from Education Fund, $150,000; and
20          ▸     to Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
21     Health, as a one-time appropriation:
22               •     from General Fund, $210,000.
23          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2016:
24          ▸     to Department of Public Safety - Programs and Operations - Bureau of Criminal
25     Identification, as an ongoing appropriation:
26               •     from Restricted - Firearm Safety Account, $15,000;
27          ▸     to Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental
28     Health, as an ongoing appropriation:

29               •     from General Fund, $191,000; and
30          ▸     to State Board of Education - Office of Education, as an ongoing appropriation:
31               •     from General Fund, $50,000.
32     Other Special Clauses:
33          This bill provides a special effective date.
34     Utah Code Sections Affected:
35     AMENDS:
36          53A-15-1301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 214 and 349
37          53A-15-1302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 349
38          62A-15-1101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 226
39     

40     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41          Section 1. Section 53A-15-1301 is amended to read:
42          53A-15-1301. Youth suicide prevention programs required in secondary schools
43     -- State Board of Education to develop model programs -- Reporting requirements.
44          (1) As used in the section:
45          (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
46          (b) "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a student from attempting suicide.
47          (c) "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to
48     prevent or contain contagion.
49          (d) "Program" means a youth suicide prevention program described in Subsection (2).
50          (e) "Secondary grades":
51          (i) means grades 7 through 12; and
52          (ii) if a middle or junior high school includes grade 6, includes grade 6.
53          (f) "State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator" means a person
54     designated by the board as described in Subsection (3).
55          (g) "State suicide prevention coordinator" means the state suicide prevention
56     coordinator described in Section 62A-15-1101.

57          (2) (a) In collaboration with the State Office of Education suicide prevention
58     coordinator, a school district or charter school shall implement a youth suicide prevention
59     program in the secondary grades of the school district or charter school.
60          (b) A school district or charter school's program shall include the following
61     components:
62          (i) in collaboration with the training, programs, and initiatives described in Section
63     53A-11a-401, programs and training to address bullying and cyberbullying, as those terms are
64     defined in Section 53A-11a-102;
65          [(i)] (ii) prevention of youth suicides;
66          [(ii)] (iii) youth suicide intervention; and
67          [(iii)] (iv) postvention for family, students, and faculty.
68          (3) The board shall:
69          (a) designate a State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator; and
70          (b) in collaboration with the Department of Heath and the state suicide prevention
71     coordinator, develop model programs to provide to school districts and charter schools:
72          (i) program training; and
73          (ii) resources regarding the required components described in Subsection (2)(b).
74          (4) The State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator shall:
75          (a) oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of school districts and charter
76     schools; and
77          (b) coordinate prevention and postvention programs, services, and efforts with the state
78     suicide prevention coordinator.
79          (5) A public school suicide prevention program may allow school personnel to ask a
80     student questions related to youth suicide prevention, intervention, or postvention.
81          (6) (a) Subject to legislative appropriation, the board may distribute money to a school
82     district or charter school to be used to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or
83     emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide in the school district or charter
84     school.

85          (b) The board shall distribute money under Subsection (6)(a) so that each school that
86     enrolls students in grade 7 or a higher grade receives an allocation of at least $500, or a lesser
87     amount per school if the legislative appropriation is not sufficient to provide at least $500 per
88     school.
89          (c) (i) A school shall use money allocated to the school under Subsection (6)(b) to
90     implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs,
91     for preventing suicide.
92          (ii) Each school may select the evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging
93     best practices and programs, for preventing suicide that the school implements.
94          (7) (a) The board shall provide a written report, and shall orally report to the
95     Legislature's Education Interim Committee, by the [November 2014] October 2015 meeting,
96     jointly with the State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator and the state suicide
97     prevention coordinator, on:
98          (i) the progress of school district and charter school [programs; and] youth suicide
99     prevention programs, including rates of participation by school districts, charter schools, and
100     students;
101          (ii) the board's coordination efforts with the Department of Health and the state suicide
102     prevention coordinator[.];
103          (iii) the State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator's model program for
104     training and resources related to youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention;
105          (iv) data measuring the effectiveness of youth suicide programs;
106          (v) funds appropriated to each school district and charter school for youth suicide
107     prevention programs; and
108          (vi) five-year trends of youth suicides per school, school district, and charter school.
109          (b) School districts and charter schools shall provide to the board information that is
110     necessary for the board's report to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee as required in
111     Subsection (7)(a).
112          Section 2. Section 53A-15-1302 is amended to read:

113          53A-15-1302. Parent education -- Mental health -- Bullying -- Safety.
114          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a school district shall offer a seminar for
115     parents of students in the school district that:
116          (i) is offered at no cost to parents;
117          (ii) begins at or after 6 p.m.;
118          (iii) is held in at least one school located in the school district; and
119          (iv) covers the topics described in Subsection (2).
120          (b) (i) A school district shall annually offer one parent seminar for each 11,000
121     students enrolled in the school district.
122          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(b)(i), a school district may not be required to offer
123     more than three seminars.
124          (c) A school district may:
125          (i) develop its own curriculum for the seminar described in Subsection (1)(a); or
126          (ii) use the curriculum developed by the State Board of Education under Subsection
127     (2).
128          (d) A school district shall notify each charter school located in the attendance
129     boundaries of the school district of the date and time of a parent seminar, so the charter school
130     may inform parents of the seminar.
131          (2) The State Board of Education shall:
132          (a) develop a curriculum for the parent seminar described in Subsection (1) that
133     includes information on:
134          (i) substance abuse, including illegal drugs and prescription drugs and prevention;
135          (ii) bullying;
136          (iii) mental health, depression, suicide awareness, and suicide prevention, including
137     education on limiting access to fatal means; and
138          (iv) Internet safety, including pornography addiction; and
139          (b) provide the curriculum, including resources and training, to school districts upon
140     request.

141          [(3) The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature's Education Interim
142     Committee, by the November 2013 meeting, on the progress of implementation of the parent
143     seminar, including if a local school board has opted out of providing the parent seminar, as
144     described in Subsection (5), and the reasons why a local school board opted out.]
145          [(4)] (3) The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature's Education
146     Interim Committee, by the [November 2014] October 2015 meeting, on:
147          (a) the progress of implementation of the parent seminar;
148          (b) the number of parent seminars conducted in each school district;
149          [(b)] (c) the estimated attendance reported by each school district;
150          [(c)] (d) a recommendation of whether to continue the parent seminar program; and
151          [(d)] (e) if a local school board has opted out of providing the parent seminar, as
152     described in Subsection [(5)] (4), [and] the reasons why a local school board opted out.
153          [(5)] (4) (a) A school district is not required to offer the parent seminar if the local
154     school board determines that the topics described in Subsection (2) are not of significant
155     interest or value to families in the school district.
156          (b) If a local school board chooses not to offer the parent seminar, the local school
157     board shall notify the State Board of Education and provide the reasons why the local school
158     board chose not to offer the parent seminar.
159          Section 3. Section 62A-15-1101 is amended to read:
160          62A-15-1101. Suicide prevention -- Reporting requirements.
161          (1) As used in the section:
162          (a) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Criminal Identification created in Section 53-10-201
163     within the Department of Public Safety.
164          (b) "Division" means the [State] Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
165          (c) "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a person from attempting suicide.
166          (d) "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to
167     prevent or contain contagion.
168          (e) "State suicide prevention coordinator" means an individual designated by the

169     division as described in Subsections (2) and (3).
170          (2) The division shall appoint a state suicide prevention coordinator to administer a
171     state suicide prevention program composed of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
172     programs, services, and efforts.
173          (3) The state suicide prevention program may include the following components:
174          (a) delivery of resources, tools, and training to community-based coalitions;
175          (b) evidence-based suicide risk assessment tools and training;
176          (c) town hall meetings for building community-based suicide prevention strategies;
177          (d) suicide prevention gatekeeper training;
178          (e) training to identify warning signs and to manage an at-risk individual's crisis;
179          (f) evidence-based intervention training;
180          (g) intervention skills training; and
181          (h) postvention training.
182          [(3)] (4) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall coordinate [the suicide
183     prevention program, including suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention programs,
184     services, and efforts statewide,] with at least the following:
185          (a) local mental health and substance abuse authorities;
186          (b) the State Board of Education, including the State Office of Education suicide
187     prevention coordinator described in Section 53A-15-1301;
188          (c) the Department of Health;
189          (d) health care providers, including emergency rooms; and
190          (e) other public health suicide prevention efforts.
191          (5) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall provide a written report, and shall
192     orally report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, by the October meeting
193     every year, on:
194          (a) implementation of the state suicide prevention program, as described in Subsections
195     (2) and (3);
196          (b) data measuring the effectiveness of each component of the state suicide prevention

197     program;
198          (c) funds appropriated for each component of the state suicide prevention program; and
199          (d) five-year trends of suicides in Utah, including subgroups of youths and adults and
200     other subgroups identified by the state suicide prevention coordinator.
201          [(4)] (6) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall report to the Legislature's
202     Education Interim Committee, by the [November 2014] October 2015 meeting, jointly with the
203     State Board of Education, on the coordination of suicide prevention programs and efforts with
204     the State Board of Education and the State Office of Education suicide prevention coordinator
205     as described in Section 53A-15-1301.
206          [(5)] (7) The state suicide prevention coordinator shall consult with the bureau to
207     implement and manage the operation of a firearm safety program, as described in Subsection
208     53-10-202(18) and Section 53-10-202.1.
209          (8) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
210     division shall make rules governing the implementation of the state suicide prevention
211     program, consistent with this section.
212          Section 4. Appropriation.
213          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
214     the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
215     are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
216     previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
217     addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
218          To State Board of Education - Office of Education
219               From Education Fund, One-time
$100,000

220               Schedule of Programs:
221                    Anti-bullying programs                    $100,000
222          The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education:
223          (1) expend appropriations under this section to implement the programs and training
224     described in Section 53A-15-1301 addressing bullying and cyberbullying; and

225          (2) make up to $1,500 available to each requesting school, for the school to choose a
226     program or training curriculum from a Utah-based organization that is tax exempt under
227     Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code, and that is focused on programs and training
228     addressing bullying and cyberbulling.
229          To State Board of Education - Office of Education
230               From Education Fund, One-time
$50,000

231               Schedule of Programs:
232                    State suicide prevention coordinator          $50,000
233          The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education expend appropriations under
234     this section for the state suicide prevention coordinator's implementation of the programs
235     described in Section 53A-15-1301.
236          To Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
237               From General Fund, One-time
$210,000

238               Schedule of Programs:
239                    State suicide prevention program               $210,000
240          Section 5. Appropriation.
241          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
242     the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016, the following sums of money
243     are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
244     previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
245     addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2016.
246          To General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account
247               From General Fund
$15,000

248               To General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account     $15,000
249          To Department of Public Safety - Programs and Operations
250               From General Fund Restricted - Firearm Safety Account
$15,000

251               Schedule of Programs:
252                    Bureau of Criminal Identification               $15,000

253          To Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
254               From General Fund
$191,000

255               Schedule of Programs:
256                    State Suicide Prevention Program               $191,000
257          To State Board of Education - Office of Education
258               From General Fund
$50,000

259               Schedule of Programs:
260                    Teaching and Learning                    $50,000
261          Section 6. Effective date.
262          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 12, 2015.
263          (2) Uncodified Section 5, Appropriation, takes effect on July 1, 2015.