2019 -- S 0545

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LC001636

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SUICIDE PREVENTION - THE NATHAN BRUNO AND

JASON FLATT ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Seveney, DiPalma, Coyne, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 21.7

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THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT

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     16-21.7-1. Short title.

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     This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act."

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     16-21.7-2. Training.

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     (a) The department of education shall adopt rules and regulations supporting suicide

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awareness and prevention training each year for public school personnel.

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     (b) Training shall be required of all personnel hired or contracted by the school district,

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including, but not limited to, teachers, administration, custodians, lunch personnel, substitutes,

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nurses, coaches and coaching staff even if volunteers.

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     (c) Training may be provided within the framework of existing in-service training

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programs offered by the department of education or as part of professional development

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activities.

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     (d)(1) The department of education shall, in consultation with the department of health,

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education and health care stakeholders and suicide prevention experts, develop a list of approved

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training materials to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

 

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     (2) Approved materials shall include training on how to identify appropriate mental

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health services both within the school and the larger community, and when and how to refer

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youth and their families to those services.

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     (3) Approved materials may include programs that can be completed through self-review

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of suitable suicide prevention materials.

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     16-21.7-3. Student suicide prevention policy.

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     (a) Each public school district shall adopt a policy on student suicide prevention. This

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policy shall, at a minimum, address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention and

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postvention. As used in this chapter, "postvention" means counseling or other social care given to

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students after another student's suicide or attempted suicide.

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     (b) To assist school districts in developing policies for student suicide prevention, the

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department of education shall develop and maintain a model policy, or adopt an existing policy as

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a model policy, to serve as a guide for school districts in accordance with this chapter.

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     (c) The school district policies shall incorporate the following provisions:

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     (1) Parents or legal guardians shall be notified as soon as there is an issue with their child

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to allow a safety net for the student;

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     (2) Districts shall create a clear complaint process for a general education student or his

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or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to make against a school for a misdeed or violation of a right,

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to be modeled after the current guidelines for students with individualized educational plans

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(IEPs);

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     (3) Guidance counselors shall be assigned the title of academic advisor. If the staff

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member provides social emotional support for students for more than sixty percent (60%) of their

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work time, the staff shall be considered social emotional support staff;

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     (4) Concrete language developed by the department of education that defines an in-school

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issue compared to an out-of-school issue. Conflicts between school personnel and students off

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school grounds and not during school time would be considered an out-of-school issue and should

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be handled appropriately; and

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     (5) A clear and encompassing employee conduct policy and regulations for when school

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personnel are involved with a student with whom they have had a prior incident that has caused a

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fracture in their relationship.

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     16-21.7-4. Protection from litigation.

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     (a) No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or

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omission resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this chapter or resulting from any

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training required by this chapter, or lack thereof, unless caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

 

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     (b) The training required by the provisions of this chapter, or lack thereof, shall not be

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construed to impose any specific duty of care.

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     16-21.7-5. Conflict between student and teacher.

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     (a) Any conflict or disagreement between a student and a teacher regarding the behavior

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of the student in school, whether in an academic or social setting, causing physical or mental

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trauma to a student shall trigger a notification to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child in

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order to facilitate the creation of a safety net for the student relating to suicide prevention.

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     (b) Upon notification that a conflict has arisen which has caused a fracture in the

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student/teacher relationship, the school district shall establish a clear and encompassing code of

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conduct regarding future interactions between the teacher and the student.

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     (c) The conflict must arise as a result of an issue occurring within the school or associated

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with school sanctioned activities including, but not limited to, athletic events, social events and

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field trips.

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     (d) Any conflict arising between a student and a teacher occurring in situations other than

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those described in subsection (c) of this section shall be treated as an out-of-school issue.

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     16-21.7-6. Complaint process for student, parent(s), or legal guardian.

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     (a) Whenever a conflict arises between a student and a teacher as set forth in ยง 16-21.7-5,

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or any other personnel hired or contracted by the school district, the student, parent(s), or legal

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guardian(s) may file a complaint against a teacher or the hired or contracted employee of the

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school for resolution.

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     (b) Complaints should include the complainant's full name, address, and contact

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information, including email address and telephone number. Complaints should be specific in

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describing the nature of the complaint and relevant information: the name of the parties involved,

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including witnesses, dates, the name of the institution, the policy or procedure violated (if

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known), and contact information. Any supporting material that substantiates the complaint should

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also be included.

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     (c) The complaint shall be filed with the superintendent of the school district for hearing

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and resolution.

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     16-21.7-7. Resolution of the complaint.

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     (a) The department of education shall establish a hearing process for the resolution of a

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complaint by the promulgation of rules and regulations necessary to establish this process, as well

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as the implementation of the provisions of this chapter.

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     (b) The hearing process shall be patterned on the hearing process utilized for the

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resolution of issues arising from students with individual education plans (IEPs).

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SUICIDE PREVENTION - THE NATHAN BRUNO AND

JASON FLATT ACT

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     This act would create the "Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act" which would require

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training of teachers and school personnel regarding suicide awareness and prevention and

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establishment of a conflict resolution process between teachers or school personnel and students.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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