1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," <-in terms and courses of study,
6providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention <-training 
<-7education.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12section to read:

13Section 1205.7. Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention
<-14Training.--(a) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the
15professional development plan submitted by each school entity to
16the secretary for approval pursuant to section 1205.1 shall

1include <-Education.--(a) Within ninety (90) days of the
2effective date of this section, school entities shall adopt a
3youth suicide awareness and prevention policy. The policy shall
4be established in conjunction with a youth suicide prevention
5organization operating in this Commonwealth. The policy shall
6include, but not be limited to:

7(1) A statement on youth suicide prevention and awareness
8and the protocols for administering youth suicide prevention
9education.

10(2) Methods of prevention, including protocols for early
11identification and referral of students at risk of suicide.

12(3) Methods of intervention, including protocols that
13address an emotional or mental health safety plan for students
14identified as being at increased risk of suicide.

15(4) Methods of postvention, including protocols for
16responding to a student or staff suicide or suicide attempt.

17(5) Reporting procedures.

18(6) Current contact information for and resources available
19on suicide awareness and prevention programs.

20(b) A school entity:

21(1) Shall inform all school entity employes of the policy
22and make available to them youth suicide awareness and
23prevention education, materials and resources based on the
24policy.

25(2) Shall, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, submit
26the professional development plan to the secretary for approval
27pursuant to section 1205.1 that includes four (4) hours of
28training in youth suicide awareness and prevention every five
29(5) years for professional educators in school buildings serving
30students in grade six (6), seven (7), eight (8), nine (9), ten

1(10), eleven (11) or twelve (12). Training under this subsection
2may be used to satisfy a professional educator's continuing
3professional education requirement under section 1205.2.

<-4(b) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective
5date of this section, the Department of Education, in
6consultation with the Department of Health, shall develop and
7make available on its publicly accessible Internet website
8recommended guidelines and educational materials for the
9training required under subsection (a), which may include
10materials which are already publicly available. In providing the
11training required under subsection (a), a school entity shall
12not be required to use the guidelines and materials developed
13and made available by the Department of Education.

<-14(3) May provide youth suicide awareness and prevention
15education to other staff, including contractors and nonteaching
16staff.

17(4) Shall incorporate youth suicide awareness and prevention
18education that is based on the policy and is age appropriate
19into the curriculum. A school entity may utilize the youth
20suicide awareness and prevention education, materials and
21resources from a list of approved resources maintained by the
22Department of Education.

23(c) The Department of Education shall maintain a list of
24approved resources and training materials and age-appropriate
25youth suicide awareness and prevention education, materials and
26resources as provided in subsection (b) on its publicly
27accessible Internet website. The Department of Education shall
28work in conjunction with a youth suicide prevention organization
29operating in this Commonwealth to determine which materials and
30resources are most appropriate.

<-1(c) (d) For purposes of this section, "school entity" shall
2mean a school district, joint school district, charter school,
3regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit
4or area vocational-technical school.

5Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013, or
6immediately, whichever is later.