H.B. No. 2186
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to suicide prevention training for educators in public
  schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Jason Flatt Act in
  memory of Jonathan Childers.
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1) and (d-2) to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The staff development:
               (1)  may include training in:
                     (A)  technology;
                     (B)  conflict resolution;
                     (C)  discipline strategies, including classroom
  management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
  conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; and
                     (D)  preventing, identifying, responding to, and
  reporting incidents of bullying; [and]
               (2)  subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541
  and rules adopted under that section, must include training based
  on scientifically based research, as defined by Section 9101, No
  Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:
                     (A)  relates to instruction of students with
  disabilities; and
                     (B)  is designed for educators who work primarily
  outside the area of special education; and
               (3)  must include suicide prevention training that must
  be provided:
                     (A)  on an annual basis, as part of a new employee
  orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter
  school educators; and
                     
  (B)  to existing school district and
  open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by
  the agency by rule.
         (d-1)  The suicide prevention training required by
  Subsection (d)(3) must use a best practice-based program
  recommended by the Department of State Health Services in
  coordination with the agency under Section 161.325, Health and
  Safety Code.
         (d-2)  The suicide prevention training required by
  Subsection (d)(3) may be satisfied through independent review of
  suicide prevention training material that:
               (1)  complies with the guidelines developed by the
  agency; and
               (2)  is offered online.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2186 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2186 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 5,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2186 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  2.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor