2024 -- H 7196 | |
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LC003336 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Bennett, McEntee, Spears, Carson, Knight, | |
Date Introduced: January 17, 2024 | |
Referred To: House Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno |
2 | and Jason Flatt Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | CHAPTER 16-21.7 |
4 | The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act |
5 | CHAPTER 16-21.7 |
6 | THE NATHAN BRUNO, JASON FLATT, AND ALICIA BIROS BEREAVEMENT ACT |
7 | SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno and Jason |
8 | Flatt Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
9 | 16-21.7-5. Emergency response and crisis management upon death of a student or |
10 | staff member. |
11 | (a) Each public school district shall adopt a policy for the immediate response to the death |
12 | of a student or staff member and shall implement a five (5) day period to be commenced upon the |
13 | death of the student or staff member during which time the local education agency (LEA) shall |
14 | provide school schedule modifications that foster a supportive school climate for responding |
15 | proactively to losses that impact students and staff. |
16 | (b) Modifications to the school schedule pursuant to this section shall include, but not be |
17 | limited to, time allowances provided for students and/or staff to attend services for the deceased; |
18 | time allowances dedicated to training staff to support grieving students; time allowances to attend |
19 | school-sponsored grief counseling; and time allowances to process grief privately in separate areas |
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1 | and/or support rooms within the school separate and apart from the classroom setting where a |
2 | student may have privacy. |
3 | (c) Time allowances provided pursuant to this section shall be considered part of the school |
4 | day for purposes of ยง 16-19-1. |
5 | SECTION 3. 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 -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT | |
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1 | This act would require public school districts to adopt a policy for responding to the death |
2 | of a student or staff member. This act would also amend the title of chapter 16-21.7 to "The Nathan |
3 | Bruno, Jason Flatt, and Alicia Biros Bereavement Act." |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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