BILL NUMBER: AB 2246	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member O'Donnell
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Low)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 215) to Chapter
2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating
to pupil health.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2246, as introduced, O'Donnell. Pupil suicide prevention
policies.
   Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state, and provides for the establishment
of school districts and other local educational agencies to operate
these schools and provide instruction to pupils.  Existing law
establishes the State Department of Education in state government,
and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to
the state's public school system.
   This bill would require a governing board or body of a local
educational agency, as defined, that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12,
inclusive, to, before the beginning of the 2017-18 school year,
adopt a policy on pupil suicide prevention, as specified, that
specifically addresses the needs of high-risk groups. By imposing
additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the
department to develop and maintain a model policy to serve as a guide
for local educational agencies.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) According to the latest 2013 data from the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause
of death for youth and young adults aged 10 to 24.
   (b) As children and teens spend a significant amount of their
young lives in school, the personnel that interact with them on a
daily basis are in a prime position to recognize the warning signs of
suicide and make the appropriate referrals for help.
   (c) In a national survey conducted by the Jason Foundation, the
number one person who a pupil would turn to for helping a friend who
might be suicidal was a teacher. It is imperative that when a young
person comes to a teacher for help, the teacher has the knowledge,
tools, and resources to respond.
   (d) There are national hotlines available to help adults and
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth
experiencing suicidal ideation, including the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline and the Trevor Project, respectively.
   (e) According to the Family Acceptance Project, research has found
that, for an LGBTQ youth, having at least one supportive adult can
reduce the youth's risk of suicide.
   (f) A model policy on suicide prevention created in consultation
with suicide prevention experts and other stakeholders is available
through the Trevor Project for adoption or adaptation, or both, by
the State Department of Education and local educational agencies.
  SEC. 2.  Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 215) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code,
to read:

      Article 2.5.  Pupil Suicide Prevention Policies


   215.  (a) A governing board or body of a local educational agency
that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall, before the
beginning of the 2017-18 school year, adopt a policy on pupil suicide
prevention. The policy shall be developed in consultation with
school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health
professionals, and suicide prevention experts, and shall, at a
minimum, address procedures relating to suicide prevention,
intervention, and postvention.
   (1) The policy shall specifically address the needs of high-risk
groups, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
   (A) Youth bereaved by suicide.
   (B) Youth with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use
disorders.
   (C) Youth experiencing homelessness or in out-of-home settings.
   (D) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.
   (2) The policy shall also address any training to be provided to
teachers of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, on suicide awareness
and prevention.
   (A) Materials approved by a local educational agency for training
shall include how to identify appropriate mental health services,
both within the schoolsite and also within the larger community, and
when and how to refer youth and their families to those services.
   (B) Materials approved for training may also include programs that
can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention
materials.
   (3) To assist local educational agencies in developing policies
for pupil suicide prevention, the department shall develop and
maintain a model policy in accordance with this section to serve as a
guide for local educational agencies.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "local educational agency" means
a county office of education, school district, state special school,
or charter school.
  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.