87R5041 BDP-D     By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 2954       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention   program for certain public elementary school campuses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.3515 to read as follows:          Sec. 38.3515.  SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND   POSTVENTION PROGRAM. (a)  In this section, "postvention" includes   activities that promote healing necessary to reduce the risk of   suicide by a person affected by the suicide of another.          (b)  To the extent funds are appropriated to the agency for   that purpose, the agency shall establish a suicide prevention,   intervention, and postvention program for optional implementation   at an elementary school campus of a school district described by   Subsection (c).          (c)  A school district may implement the program established   under this section at a campus of the district if the district or   campus has:                (1)  experienced suicide loss among elementary school   students enrolled in the district; or                (2)  a reasonable concern regarding the risk of suicide   among elementary school students enrolled in the district.          (d)  The agency may prioritize school districts described by   Subsection (c)(1).          (e)  For each elementary school campus at which the program   is implemented, the agency shall:                (1)  conduct:                      (A)  an eligibility assessment of whether a   district that implements the program meets the criteria provided   under Subsection (c); and                      (B)  a needs-based assessment to identify   individual needs of each campus in the program;                (2)  provide, in coordination with the Health and Human   Services Commission, comprehensive Suicide Safer Early   Intervention and Prevention systems for each campus in the program;                (3)  provide recommendations for research-based best   practices for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention   policies;                (4)  develop a method for eligible districts to request   the assistance of public and private community-based mental health   resources;                (5)  ensure that informational materials distributed   by an eligible district are age-appropriate and evidence-based; and                (6)  at the request of an eligible district, provide   support to the campus in the program, including by:                      (A)  identifying the individual needs of the   campus through the assessment conducted under Subdivision (1)(B);                      (B)  implementing research-based best practices   for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention; and                      (C)  working with mental health professionals,   school counselors, teachers, nurses, administrators, and other   staff, as well as law enforcement officers and social workers who   regularly interact with students, to prevent suicide among students   enrolled at the campus.          (f)  Each school district that implements the program under   this section shall provide written notice to a parent or guardian of   each student enrolled at a campus in the program. The required   written notice must include:                (1)  current information on suicide rates;                (2)  evidence-based informational materials   identifying strategies to recognize the signs and symptoms of   possible suicidal ideation that are age-appropriate for children   who are three years of age or older;                (3)  information about suicide prevention strategies   involving restricting access to the means of suicide; and                (4)  a list of available school and community resources   to support students or community members who may be at risk for   suicide.          (g)  In developing the program under this section, the   agency, in consultation with the Health and Human Services   Commission, shall make the considerations described by Section   38.351(f).          (h)  In addition to the policies and procedures developed by   a school district under Section 38.351(i), a district that   implements the program shall develop practices and procedures   concerning suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention that:                (1)  include a procedure for providing notice to a   parent or guardian of a student regarding a recommendation for   early mental health intervention regarding the student within a   reasonable amount of time after the identification of early warning   signs of risk for suicide, including:                      (A)  declining academic performance;                      (B)  depression;                      (C)  anxiety;                      (D)  isolation;                      (E)  unexplained changes in sleep or eating   habits; and                      (F)  destructive behavior toward self and others;                (2)  include a procedure for providing notice of a   student identified as at risk of attempting suicide, including a   student who is or may be the victim of or who engages in bullying, to   a parent or guardian of the student within a reasonable amount of   time after the identification of early warning signs, including the   signs listed in Subdivision (1);                (3)  designate at least one person to act as a liaison   officer in the district for the purposes of identifying students in   need of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention;                (4)  provide information concerning available   counseling alternatives to parents and guardians of district   students to consider when a student is identified as possibly in   need of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention; and                (5)  include procedures to support the return of a   student to regular school attendance following hospitalization or   residential treatment for a mental health condition or substance   abuse.          (i)  The practices and procedures developed under Subsection   (h) must be included in:                (1)  the annual student handbook; and                (2)  the district improvement plan under Section   11.252.          (j)  The agency:                (1)  may accept donations for purposes of this section   from sources without a conflict of interest; and                (2)  may not accept donations for purposes of this   section from an anonymous source.          (k)  Nothing in this section is intended to interfere with   the rights of parents or guardians and the decision-making   regarding the best interest of the child. Practices and procedures   developed in accordance with this section are intended to notify a   parent or guardian of a need for suicide prevention, intervention,   or postvention so that a parent or guardian may take appropriate   action.          (l)  Nothing in this section authorizes a school district   employee to recommend prescription medication for a student or to   interfere with medical decisions to be made by the student's parent   or guardian.          (m)  The commissioner shall adopt rules to administer this   section.          (n)  This section expires September 1, 2025.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022   school year.          SECTION 3.  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, 2021.