BILL NUMBER: AB 739	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 26, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Bonnie Lowenthal  , Ammiano,
 and Brownley
    (   Coauthor:  Assembly Member  
Williams   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to add Section 51223.5 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 739, as amended, Bonnie Lowenthal. Pupil instruction: suicide
prevention: mental illness awareness.
   Existing law establishes an adopted course of study for grades 7
to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes the Curriculum Development
and Supplemental Materials Commission and requires the commission to
recommend to the State Board of Education the adoption of minimum
standards for courses of study in preschool, kindergarten,
elementary, and secondary schools.
   This bill would require the state board and the commission to
include suicide prevention instruction and mental illness awareness
instruction in the health education framework for pupils in grades 7
to 12, inclusive, during the next revision of that framework. 
The bill would also require the state board and the commission to
include suicide prevention instruction and mental health illness
awareness instruction in the health education evaluation criteria for
pupils in grades 7 and 8   during that revision. The bill
would authorize a school district, commencing with the 2012-13 school
year, to provide suicide prevention instruction and mental illness
awareness instruction to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 51223.5 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   51223.5.  (a) During the next revision of the health education
framework, the state board and the Curriculum Development and
Supplemental Materials Commission shall include suicide prevention
instruction and mental illness awareness instruction in that
framework for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive.  In the course
of that revision, the Curriculum Development and Supplemental
Materials Commission and the state board shall include suicide
prevention instruction and mental illness awareness instruction in
the evaluation criteria for grades 7 and 8.  
   (b) Commencing with the 2012-13 school year, a school district may
provide to pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, suicide
prevention instruction and mental illness awareness instruction.
 
   (b) 
    (c)  As used in this section, "suicide prevention
instruction" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
   (1) Awareness and knowledge of depression, depression symptoms,
self-destructive behaviors, and risk factors and warning signs of
suicide.
   (2) Ability to identify school and community resources for suicide
prevention.
   (3) Knowledge and skills about how to seek help for oneself or a
friend and how to overcome barriers to seeking help.
   (4) Importance of witnesses and bystanders reporting actual or
perceived signs of suicide risk factors or behaviors to teachers,
counselors, administrators, or other school staff. 
   (c) 
    (d)  As used in this section, "mental illness awareness
instruction" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
   (1) Awareness and knowledge of mental illnesses and disorders,
including, but not limited to, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and autism spectrum
disorders.
   (2) Ability to identify school and community resources for
individuals living with a mental illness or disorder.
   (3) Knowledge and skills about how to seek help for oneself or a
friend and how to overcome barriers to seeking help.