DAR File No. 37929

Education, Administration

Rule R277-620

Suicide Prevention Programs

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 37929
Filed: 08/14/2013 10:34:43 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Legislature passed H.B. 15, Suicide Prevention Programs, in the 2013 General Legislative Session. The legislation establishes a staff position at the USOE to oversee youth suicide prevention programs in collaboration with the Department of Human Services. This new rule addresses requirements of the legislation.

Summary of the rule or change:

The new rule provides definitions and Utah State Board of Education (Board), Utah State Office of Education (USOE), and local education agency (LEA) responsibilities.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget. Funding is appropriated for a youth suicide prevention specialist to coordinate the program.

local governments:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to local government beyond the legislative appropriation. It is anticipated that LEA responsibilities and requirements will be managed with existing staff within existing budgets.

small businesses:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to small businesses. This rule applies to public education and does not affect businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. Responsibilities are at a state and local level.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. The state and LEAs will comply with the requirements of state law and this rule.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses.

Martell Menlove, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

10/01/2013

This rule may become effective on:

10/08/2013

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-620. Suicide Prevention Programs.

R277-620-1. Definitions.

A. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

B. "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a student from attempting suicide.

C. "LEA" means a local education agency, including local school boards/public school districts, charter schools, and, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

D. "Parent notification" means a notice provided by a public school to a students' parent(s) consistent with Section 53A-11a-203(2) and 53A-11a-301(3)(e).

E. "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to prevent or contain contagion.

F. "Program for secondary grades" means a youth suicide prevention program for students in grades 7 through 12, including grade 6 if middle or junior high school includes grade 6.

G. "State suicide prevention coordinator" means the person designated by the Department of Health - State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in Section 62A-15-1101.

H. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

I. "USOE suicide prevention coordinator" means person designated by the Board to oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of LEAs and who is responsible to coordinate prevention programs, services, and efforts with the state suicide prevention coordinator.

J. "Youth protection and mental health seminar" means an evening seminar offered by an LEA to parents of students consistent with Section 53A-15-1301.

 

R277-620-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized under Utah Constitution Article X Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purposes of this rule are:

(1) to provide for collaboration with the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to establish, oversee, and provide model policies, programs for LEAs and training for parents about youth suicide prevention programs;

(2) to require LEAs to have and update youth protection policies; and

(3) to direct LEAs to send notice to parents and protect the confidentiality of the required parent notification record regarding bullying and suicide incidents.

 

R277-620-3. Board, USOE and LEA Responsibilities.

A. Board and USOE responsibilities:

(1) The USOE suicide prevention coordinator shall oversee LEA youth suicide prevention programs.

(2) The USOE in collaboration with the Department of Health - State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the state suicide prevention coordinator shall establish model youth suicide prevention programs for LEAs that include training and resources addressing prevention of youth suicides, youth suicide intervention, and postvention for family, students and faculty.

(3) Based on legislative appropriation, the Board shall distribute funds to implement LEA programs.

(4) The Board shall report jointly with the state suicide prevention coordinator to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee in November 2013 and 2014 on:

(a) the progress of LEA programs; and

(b) the Board's coordination efforts with the Department of Health - State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the state suicide prevention coordinator.

B. LEA responsibilities:

(1) LEAs shall implement youth suicide prevention programs for students in secondary grades, including grades 7 through 12 and grade 6, if grade 6 is part of a secondary grade model.

(2) The programs shall include components provided in Section 53A-15-1301(2).

(3) LEAs shall update bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, and retaliation policy(ies) consistent with Section 53A-11a-301 and R277-613, including the required parent notification outlined in Sections 53A-11a-203(2) and 53A-11a-301(3)(e) and R277-613-4C and D.

(4) LEAs shall provide necessary reporting information consistent with Section 53A-15-1301(3) and (5) for the Board's report on the coordination of suicide prevention programs and seminar program implementation to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee.

 

KEY: public schools, suicide prevention programs, parent notification, seminars

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2013

Authorizing, and Implementing or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-401(3)