2023 Utah Code › Title 53G - Public Education System -- Local Administration › Chapter 9 - Health and Welfare › Part 7 - Suicide Prevention › Section 702 - Youth suicide prevention programs -- State board to develop model programs.

Effective 7/1/2023
53G-9-702.
Youth suicide prevention programs -- State board to develop model programs.
(1) As used in the section:
(a) "Elementary grades" means:
(i) kindergarten through grade 5; and
(ii) if the associated middle or junior high school does not include grade 6, grade 6.
(b) "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a student from attempting suicide.
(c) "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to prevent or contain contagion.
(d) "Program" means a youth suicide prevention program described in Subsection (2).
(e) "Public education suicide prevention coordinator" means an individual designated by the state board as described in Subsection (4).
(f) "Secondary grades" means:
(i) grades 7 through 12; and
(ii) if a middle or junior high school includes grade 6, grade 6.
(g) "State suicide prevention coordinator" means the state suicide prevention coordinator described in Section 26B-5-611.
(2) In collaboration with the public education suicide prevention coordinator, a school district or charter school shall implement a youth suicide prevention program, which, in collaboration with the training, programs, and initiatives described in Section 53G-9-607, shall include programs and training to address:
(a) for elementary grades and secondary grades:
(i) life-affirming education, including on the concepts of resiliency, healthy habits, self-care, problem solving, and conflict resolution;
(ii) methods of strengthening the family; and
(iii) methods of strengthening a youth's relationships in the school and community; and
(b) for secondary grades:
(i) prevention of youth suicide;
(ii) decreasing the risk of suicide among youth who are:
(A) not accepted by family for any reason, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth; or
(B) suffer from bullying;
(iii) youth suicide intervention; and
(iv) postvention for family, students, and faculty.
(3) Each school district and charter school shall ensure that the youth suicide prevention program described in Subsection (2):
(a) considers appropriate coordination with the following prevention programs:
(i) the prevention of bullying and cyber-bullying, as those terms are defined in Section 53G-9-601; and
(ii) the prevention of underage drinking of alcohol and substance abuse under Section 53G-10-406; and
(b) includes provisions to ensure that the school district or charter school promptly communicates with the parent or guardian of a student in accordance with Section 53G-9-604.
(4) The state board shall:
(a) designate a public education suicide prevention coordinator; and
(b) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and the state suicide prevention coordinator, develop model programs to provide to school districts and charter schools:
(i) program training; and
(ii) resources regarding the required components described in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
(5) The public education suicide prevention coordinator shall:
(a) oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of school districts and charter schools; and
(b) coordinate prevention and postvention programs, services, and efforts with the state suicide prevention coordinator.
(6) A public school suicide prevention program may allow school personnel to ask a student questions related to youth suicide prevention, intervention, or postvention.
(7)
(a) Subject to legislative appropriation and except as provided in Section 53F-2-525, the state board may distribute money to a school district or charter school to be used to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide in the school district or charter school.
(b) The state board shall ensure that an LEA's allocation of funds from the board's distribution of money under Subsection (7)(a) provides an amount equal to at least $1,000 per school.
(c)
(i) A school shall use money allocated to the school under Subsection (7)(b) to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide.
(ii) Each school may select the evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide that the school implements.
(8) An LEA may not charge indirect costs to the program.
Amended by Chapter 98, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 328, 2023 General Session