2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 70. Schools › §70-24-100.7. Suicide awareness and drug abuse policies – Immunity from employment discipline and civil liability – Cause of action limitations – Duty to notify parents or legal guardians.

A. The board of education of each school district in this state shall adopt a policy regarding suicide awareness and training, requiring staff training and the reporting of student drug abuse.
B. The board of education of each school district in this state shall provide training to all staff members in their first year employed by the school district, and then once every fifth academic year, addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall make available to school districts curriculum for staff which addresses suicide awareness and prevention, without cost to the school districts. The course outline for the curriculum shall be made available to the public online through the school district website. Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, every school district shall:
1. Provide a suicide prevention training program which includes as a core element evidence-based approaches;
2. Provide the curriculum made available by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; or
3. Provide a suicide prevention training program that is selected by the school district from a list maintained by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to school district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The training program may be combined with any other training provided by the school district addressing bullying prevention.
C. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the board of education of each school district may provide training to address suicide awareness and prevention to students in grades seven through twelve.
D. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators and other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline and any civil liability for:
1. Calling the 911 emergency telephone number, law enforcement or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act;
2. Providing referral, emergency medical care or other assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or
3. Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or alcohol abuse or a potential safety threat by or to any student to the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement officers or health care providers.
E. No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of this section or resulting from any training, or lack thereof, required by this section, unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.
F. The training required pursuant to this section, or the lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of care.
G. The board of education of each school district may enter into agreements with designated Youth Services Agencies for the provision of intervention and prevention services.
H. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators or other school personnel, upon determining that a student is at risk of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardians of the student immediately upon determining that such risk exists.
Added by Laws 2014, c. 333, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 2014. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 168, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 7, eff. July 1, 2023.