1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) | | | 3|SENATE BILL 175 By: Floyd | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021, | | Section 24-100.7, which relates to suicide awareness | 8| and drug abuse policies; naming act Evan's Law; | | providing short title; directing certain training to | 9| be provided at minimum frequency; updating statutory | | language; providing an effective date; and declaring | 10| an emergency. | | | 11| | | | 12| | | | 13|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 14| SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 24-100.7, is | | | 15|amended to read as follows: | | | 16| Section 24-100.7. A. This act shall be known and may be cited | | | 17|as "Evan's Law". | | | 18| B. The board of education of each school district in this state | | | 19|shall adopt a policy regarding suicide awareness and training, | | | 20|requiring staff training, and the reporting of student drug abuse. | | | 21|B.C. The board of education of each school district in this | | | 22|state shall provide district-wide training to all staff on at least | | | 23|a biennial basis addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The | | | 24|Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall make | | | Req. No. 1273 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|available to school districts curriculum for staff which addresses | | | 2|suicide awareness and prevention, without cost to the school | | | 3|districts. The course outline for the curriculum shall be made | | | 4|available to the public online through the school district website. | | | 5|Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, every school district | | | 6|shall: | | | 7| 1. Provide a suicide prevention training program which includes | | | 8|as a core element evidence-based approaches; | | | 9| 2. Provide the curriculum made available by the Department of | | | 10|Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; or | | | 11| 3. Provide a suicide prevention training program that is | | | 12|selected by the school district from a list maintained by the | | | 13|Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to school | | | 14|district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The | | | 15|training program may be combined with any other training provided by | | | 16|the school district addressing bullying prevention. | | | 17|C.D. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the board of | | | 18|education of each school district may provide training to address | | | 19|suicide awareness and prevention to students in grades seven through | | | 20|twelve. | | | 21|D.E. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, and | | | 22|other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline | | | 23|and any civil liability for: | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 1273 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| 1. Calling the 911 emergency telephone number, law enforcement, | | | 2|or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses | | | 3|a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or | | | 4|been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act; | | | 5| 2. Providing referral, emergency medical care, or other | | | 6|assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or | | | 7| 3. Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or | | | 8|alcohol abuse or a potential safety threat by or to any student to | | | 9|the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement | | | 10|officers, or health care providers. | | | 11|E.F. No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or | | | 12|damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the | | | 13|implementation of this section or resulting from any training, or | | | 14|lack thereof, required by this section, unless the loss or damage | | | 15|was caused by willful or wanton misconduct. | | | 16|F.G. The training required pursuant to this section, or the | | | 17|lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of | | | 18|care. | | | 19|G.H. The board of education of each school district may enter | | | 20|into agreements with designatedYouth Services Agenciesyouth | | | 21|services agencies for the provision of intervention and prevention | | | 22|services. | | | 23|H.I. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or | | | 24|other school personnel, upon determining that a student is at risk | | | Req. No. 1273 Page 3 ___________________________________________________________________________
1|of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardians | | | 2|of the student immediately upon determining that such risk exists. | | | 3| SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. | | | 4| SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation | | | 5|of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby | | | 6|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and | | | 7|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. | | | 8| | | | 9| 59-1-1273 EB 1/6/2023 4:10:06 PM | | | 10| | | | 11| | | | 12| | | | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15| | | | 16| | | | 17| | | | 18| | | | 19| | | | 20| | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 1273 Page 4