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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
schools; suicide prevention training
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration (AHCCCS) to develop a suicide prevention training program and requires school districts, charter schools and Arizona teacher training programs to include suicide awareness and prevention training.
Background
Certificated teachers and administrators must complete 15 continuing education credits each year to renew a certificate. Continuing education credits may include training on: 1) suicide awareness and prevention; 2) child abuse, human trafficking of children and the sexual abuse of children; and 3) screening, intervention, accommodation, use of technology and advocacy for students with reading impairments, including dyslexia (A.R.S. § 15-218 and A.A.C. R7-2-619).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires AHCCCS to develop and post to the AHCCCS website a suicide prevention training program that meets outlined requirements for school districts, charter schools and teacher training programs.
2. Requires, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, school districts and charter schools to provide the following to school guidance counselors, teachers, principals and other school personnel who work with pupils in 6th through 12th grades:
a) training in suicide prevention;
b) training to identify warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens; and
c) intervention and referral techniques at least once every three years.
3. Requires AHCCCS, by July 1, 2020, to annually identify or develop, and post on the AHCCCS website, approved materials that schools may use to provide suicide prevention training and annually update the materials.
4. Requires Arizona teacher training programs to include suicide awareness and prevention training that meets the same requirements as training provided by school districts and charter schools.
5. Requires suicide prevention training to use evidence-based training materials.
6. Allows school districts and charter schools to provide suicide awareness and prevention training within the framework of existing in-service training programs or as part of professional development activities.
7. Indemnifies, from civil or criminal liability, school personnel and any other persons for good faith actions relating to suicide prevention training.
8. Designates this legislation the Mitch Warnock Act.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2019
JO/LB/gs