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