Utah Code § 53G-8-802 — Utah Code / Title 53G / Chapter 53G-8 / § 53G-8-802
§ 53G-8-802. State Safety and Support Program -- State board duties -- LEA duties.
Status: in_force

7/1/2026 (1) There is created the School Safety Center. (2) The School Safety Center shall: (a) develop in conjunction with the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health and the state security chief model student safety and support policies for an LEA, including: (i) requiring an evidence-based behavior threat assessment that includes recommended interventions with an individual whose behavior poses a threat to school safety; (ii) procedures for referrals to law enforcement; and (iii) procedures for referrals to a community services entity, a family support organization, or a health care provider for evaluation or treatment; (b) provide training in consultation with the state security chief: (i) in school safety; (ii) in evidence-based approaches to improve school climate and address and correct bullying behavior; (iii) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may pose a threat to the school community; (iv) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may be showing signs or symptoms of mental illness; (v) on permitted disclosures of student data to law enforcement and other support services under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g; (vi) on permitted collection of student data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232h and Sections 53E-9-203 and 53E-9-305; and (vii) for administrators on rights and prohibited acts under: (A) Chapter 9, Part 6, Bullying and Hazing; (B) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d et seq.; (C) Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.; (D) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq.; and (E) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.; (c) conduct and disseminate evidence-based research on school safety concerns; (d) disseminate information on effective school safety initiatives; (e) encourage partnerships between public and private sectors to promote school safety; (f) provide technical assistance to an LEA in the development and implementation of school safety initiatives; (g) in conjunction with the state security chief, make available to an LEA the model critical incident response training program a school and law enforcement agency shall use during a threat; (h) provide space for the public safety liaison described in Section 53-1-106 and the school-based mental health specialist described in Section 26B-5-102; (i) collaborate with the state security chief to determine appropriate application of school safety requirements in Utah Code to an online school; (j) create a model school climate survey that may be used by an LEA to assess stakeholder perception of a school environment; (k) in accordance with Section 53G-5-202, establish a charter school liaison including defined responsibilities for charter school communication and coordination with the School Safety Center; (l) assist a foundation described in Section 53-22-108 in distributing school safety products if a foundation seeks assistance; (m) establishes defined roles for a multidisciplinary team and school safety personnel described in Chapter 8, Part 7, School Safety Personnel; (n) assist LEAs in implementing and maintaining universal access key box requirements under Section 53G-8-805; (o) in consultation with the state security chief, select a system to track relevant data, including the tracking required in Sections 53-22-105, 53G-8-701.5, 53G-8-701.8, and 53G-8-704; (p) collect aggregate data and school climate survey results from an LEA that administers the model school climate survey described in Subsection (2)(j); (q) provide training to LEAs on threat assessment protocols; and (r) establish best practices for threat assessment teams and information sharing. (3) Nothing in this section requires: (a) an individual to respond to a school climate survey; or (b) an LEA to use the model school climate survey or any specified questions in the model school climate survey described in Subsection (2)(j). (4) The state board shall require an LEA to: (a) (i) if an LEA administers a school climate survey, review school climate data for each school within the LEA; and (ii) based on the review described in Subsection (4)(a)(i): (A) revise practices, policies, and training to eliminate harassment and discrimination in each school within the LEA; (B) adopt a plan for harassment- and discrimination-free learning; and (C) host outreach events or assemblies to inform students and parents of the plan adopted under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B); (b) no later than September 1 of each school year, send a notice to each student, parent, and LEA staff member stating the LEA's commitment to maintaining a school climate that is free of harassment and discrimination; and (c) report to the state board annually on the LEA's implementation of the plan under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B) and progress.7/1/2026 (1) There is created the School Safety Center. (2) The School Safety Center shall: (a) develop in conjunction with the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health and the state security chief model student safety and support policies for an LEA, including: (i) requiring an evidence-based behavior threat assessment that includes recommended interventions with an individual whose behavior poses a threat to school safety; (ii) procedures for referrals to law enforcement; and (iii) procedures for referrals to a community services entity, a family support organization, or a health care provider for evaluation or treatment; (b) provide training in consultation with the state security chief: (i) in school safety; (ii) in evidence-based approaches to improve school climate and address and correct bullying behavior; (iii) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may pose a threat to the school community; (iv) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may be showing signs or symptoms of mental illness; (v) on permitted disclosures of student data to law enforcement and other support services under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g; (vi) on permitted collection of student data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232h and Sections 53E-9-203 and 53E-9-305; and (vii) for administrators on rights and prohibited acts under: (A) Chapter 9, Part 6, Bullying and Hazing; (B) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d et seq.; (C) Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.; (D) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq.; and (E) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.; (c) conduct and disseminate evidence-based research on school safety concerns; (d) disseminate information on effective school safety initiatives; (e) encourage partnerships between public and private sectors to promote school safety; (f) provide technical assistance to an LEA in the development and implementation of school safety initiatives; (g) in conjunction with the state security chief, make available to an LEA the model critical incident response training program a school and law enforcement agency shall use during a threat; (h) provide space for the public safety liaison described in Section 53-1-106 and the school-based mental health specialist described in Section 26B-5-102; (i) collaborate with the state security chief to determine appropriate application of school safety requirements in Utah Code to an online school; (j) create a model school climate survey that may be used by an LEA to assess stakeholder perception of a school environment; (k) in accordance with Section 53G-5-202, establish a charter school liaison including defined responsibilities for charter school communication and coordination with the School Safety Center; (l) assist a foundation described in Section 53-22-108 in distributing school safety products if a foundation seeks assistance; (m) establishes defined roles for a multidisciplinary team and school safety personnel described in Chapter 8, Part 7, School Safety Personnel; (n) assist LEAs in implementing and maintaining universal access key box requirements under Section 53G-8-805; (o) in consultation with the state security chief, select a system to track relevant data, including the tracking required in Sections 53-22-105, 53G-8-701.5, 53G-8-701.8, and 53G-8-704; (p) collect aggregate data and school climate survey results from an LEA that administers the model school climate survey described in Subsection (2)(j); (q) provide training to LEAs on threat assessment protocols; and (r) establish best practices for threat assessment teams and information sharing. (3) Nothing in this section requires: (a) an individual to respond to a school climate survey; or (b) an LEA to use the model school climate survey or any specified questions in the model school climate survey described in Subsection (2)(j). (4) The state board shall require an LEA to: (a) (i) if an LEA administers a school climate survey, review school climate data for each school within the LEA; and (ii) based on the review described in Subsection (4)(a)(i): (A) revise practices, policies, and training to eliminate harassment and discrimination in each school within the LEA; (B) adopt a plan for harassment- and discrimination-free learning; and (C) host outreach events or assemblies to inform students and parents of the plan adopted under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B); (b) no later than September 1 of each school year, send a notice to each student, parent, and LEA staff member stating the LEA's commitment to maintaining a school climate that is free of harassment and discrimination; and (c) report to the state board annually on the LEA's implementation of the plan under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B) and progress.