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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to suicide prevention in public school curriculum and |
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certain educational programs concerning suicide prevention and |
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substance abuse prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 161.325(a-1), Health and Safety Code, as |
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amended by Chapter 714 (H.B. 4056) and Chapter 522 (S.B. 179), Acts |
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of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is reenacted and |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The list must include programs and practices in the |
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following areas: |
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(1) early mental health prevention and intervention; |
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(2) [mental health promotion;
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[(3)] substance abuse prevention and intervention; |
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(3) [(4) substance abuse intervention;
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[(5)] suicide prevention, intervention, and |
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postvention; |
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(4) [(6)] grief-informed and trauma-informed |
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practices; |
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(5) [(7)] building skills related to managing |
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emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and |
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responsible decision-making; |
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(6) [(8)] positive behavior interventions and |
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supports and positive youth development; and |
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(7) [(9)] safe, [and] supportive, and positive school |
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climate. |
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SECTION 2. Section 161.325, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (a-4) and amending Subsections (b) and |
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(d) to read as follows: |
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(a-4) In this section, "postvention" includes activities |
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that promote healing necessary to reduce the risk of suicide by a |
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person affected by the suicide of another. |
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(b) The suicide prevention programs on the list must include |
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components that provide for training counselors, teachers, nurses, |
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administrators, and other staff, as well as law enforcement |
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officers and social workers who regularly interact with students, |
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to: |
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(1) recognize students at risk of committing suicide, |
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including students who are or may be the victims of or who engage in |
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bullying; |
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(2) recognize students displaying early warning signs |
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and a possible need for early mental health or substance abuse |
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intervention, which warning signs may include declining academic |
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performance, depression, anxiety, isolation, unexplained changes |
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in sleep or eating habits, and destructive behavior toward self and |
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others; [and] |
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(3) intervene effectively with students described by |
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Subdivision (1) or (2) by providing notice and referral to a parent |
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or guardian so appropriate action, such as seeking mental health or |
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substance abuse services, may be taken by a parent or guardian; and |
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(4) assist students in returning to school following |
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treatment of a mental health concern or suicide attempt. |
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(d) A school district shall [may] develop practices and |
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procedures concerning each area listed in Subsection (a-1), |
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including mental health promotion and intervention, substance |
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abuse prevention and intervention, and suicide prevention, that: |
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(1) include a procedure for providing notice of a |
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recommendation for early mental health or substance abuse |
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intervention regarding a student to a parent or guardian of the |
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student within a reasonable amount of time after the identification |
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of early warning signs as described by Subsection (b)(2); |
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(2) include a procedure for providing notice of a |
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student identified as at risk of committing suicide to a parent or |
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guardian of the student within a reasonable amount of time after the |
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identification of early warning signs as described by Subsection |
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(b)(2); |
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(3) establish that the district may develop a |
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reporting mechanism and may designate at least one person to act as |
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a liaison officer in the district for the purposes of identifying |
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students in need of early mental health or substance abuse |
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intervention or suicide prevention; [and] |
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(4) set out available counseling alternatives for a |
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parent or guardian to consider when their child is identified as |
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possibly being in need of early mental health or substance abuse |
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intervention or suicide prevention; and |
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(5) include procedures: |
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(A) to support the return of a student to school |
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following hospitalization or residential treatment for a mental |
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health condition or substance abuse; and |
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(B) for suicide prevention, intervention, and |
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postvention. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |