BILL NUMBER: AB 2246 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 642
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 23, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 9, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 16, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member O'Donnell
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bloom, Chang, Chiu, Gordon, and Low)
(Coauthor: Senator Leno)
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, 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 the 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.
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 10 to 24 years of age, inclusive.
(b) As children and teens spend a significant amount of their
young lives in school, the personnel who 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 whom 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) (1) The 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, at a regularly
scheduled meeting, a policy on pupil suicide prevention in grades 7
to 12, inclusive. 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.
(2) 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,
such as foster care.
(D) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.
(3) (A) 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.
(B) Materials approved by a local educational agency for training
shall include how to identify appropriate mental health services,
both at the schoolsite and within the larger community, and when and
how to refer youth and their families to those services.
(C) Materials approved for training may also include programs that
can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention
materials.
(4) The policy shall be written to ensure that a school employee
acts only within the authorization and scope of the employee's
credential or license. Nothing in this section shall be construed as
authorizing or encouraging a school employee to diagnose or treat
mental illness unless the employee is specifically licensed and
employed to do so.
(5) 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.