2023 Utah Code › Title 53G - Public Education System -- Local Administration › Chapter 8 - Discipline and Safety › Part 8 - State Safety and Support Program › Section 802 - State Safety and Support Program -- State board duties -- LEA duties.

Effective 5/3/2023
53G-8-802.
State Safety and Support Program -- State board duties -- LEA duties.
(1) There is created the State Safety and Support Program.
(2) The state board shall:
(a) develop in conjunction with the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health model student safety and support policies for an LEA, including:
(i) evidence-based procedures for the assessment of and intervention 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:
(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 Department of Public Safety, develop and make available to an LEA a model critical incident response training program that includes:
(i) protocols for conducting a threat assessment, and ensuring building security during an incident, as required in Section 53G-8-701.5;
(ii) standardized response protocol terminology for use throughout the state;
(iii) protocols for planning and safety drills; and
(iv) recommendations for safety equipment for schools including amounts and types of first aid supplies;
(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-5-211;
(i) create a model school climate survey that may be used by an LEA to assess stakeholder perception of a school environment and, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules:
(i) requiring an LEA to:
(A) create or adopt and disseminate a school climate survey; and
(B) disseminate the school climate survey;
(ii) recommending the distribution method, survey frequency, and sample size of the survey; and
(iii) specifying the areas of content for the school climate survey; and
(j) collect aggregate data and school climate survey results from each LEA.
(3) Nothing in this section requires an individual to respond to a school climate survey.
(4) The state board shall require an LEA to:
(a)
(i) review data from the state board-facilitated surveys containing 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:
(i) no later than August 1, 2023, on the LEA's plan adopted under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B); and
(ii) after August 1, 2023, annually on the LEA's implementation of the plan and progress.
Amended by Chapter 328, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 383, 2023 General Session