2021 -- S 0031

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LC000368

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SUICIDE PREVENTION--THE NATHAN BRUNO AND

JASON FLATT ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Seveney, Euer, DiPalma, Miller, Coyne, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 21.7

THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT

     16-21.7-1. Short title.

     This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act."

     16-21.7-2. Training.

     (a) The department of education shall adopt rules and regulations supporting suicide

awareness and prevention training each year for public school personnel and students.

     (b)(1) Training shall be required of all personnel hired or contracted by the school district,

including, but not limited to, teachers, administration, custodians, lunch personnel, substitutes,

nurses, coaches and coaching staff, even if volunteers. The training shall occur every year.

     (2) Training shall be required of all students starting in grade six (6) and through grade

twelve (12) each academic year.

     (c) Training may be provided within the framework of existing in-service training

programs offered by the department of education or as part of professional development activities.

     (d)(1) The department of education shall, in consultation with the department of health,

department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, education and health

care stakeholders, mental health care stakeholders and suicide prevention experts, develop a list of

approved training materials to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

     (2) This list shall be fully evaluated and updated at least every three (3) years.

     (3) Approved training materials and instruction shall include training on how to identify

appropriate mental health services both within the school and the larger community, and when and

how to refer youth and their families to those services. These materials and instruction are to be

given by qualified suicide prevention instructors as determined by the listed entities and groups

listed in subsection (d)(1) of this section.

     16-21.7-3. Student suicide prevention policy.

     (a) Each public school district shall adopt a policy on student suicide prevention. This

policy shall, at a minimum, address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention and

postvention. For the purposes of this chapter, "postvention" means counseling, or other social care

given to students after another student's suicide or attempted suicide. Postvention also means

counseling to students that have made a suicide attempt or have reported ideation, this counseling

shall consist of regular check-ins. For the purposes of this chapter, “regular” means a frequency as

determined by a licensed mental health professional.

     (b) To assist school districts in developing policies for student suicide prevention, the

department of education shall develop and maintain a model policy, or adopt an existing policy as

a model policy, to serve as a guide for school districts in accordance with this chapter to include,

but not limited to, parental notification procedures, clarification of engagement with student

support personnel, and language defining an in-school issue compared to an out-of-school issue.

     16-21.7-4. Protection from litigation.

     (a) No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or

omission resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this chapter or resulting from any

training required by this chapter, or lack thereof, unless caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

     (b) The training required by the provisions of this chapter, or lack thereof, shall not be

construed to impose any specific duty of care except as expressly provided for herein.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SUICIDE PREVENTION--THE NATHAN BRUNO AND

JASON FLATT ACT

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     This act would create the "Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act" which would require training

of teachers, students and all school personnel regarding suicide awareness and prevention, and the

establishment of a conflict resolution process between teachers or school personnel and students.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000368

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