An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5-B, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 53, §1, is amended to read:
(1) For 1,001 to 1,500 students, one additional school employee;
(2) For 1,501 to 2,000 students, 2 additional school personnel;
(3) For 2,001 to 2,500 students, 3 additional school personnel;
(4) For 2,501 to 3,000 students, 4 additional school personnel;
(5) For 3,001 to 3,500 students, 5 additional school personnel;
(6) For 3,501 to 4,000 students, 6 additional school personnel;
(7) For 4,001 to 4,500 students, 7 additional school personnel;
(8) For 4,501 to 5,000 students, 8 additional school personnel;
(9) For 5,001 to 5,500 students, 9 additional school personnel;
(10) For 5,501 to 6,000 students, 10 additional school personnel;
(11) For 6,001 to 6,500 students, 11 additional school personnel;
(12) For 6,501 to 7,000 students, 12 additional school personnel;
(13) For 7,001 to 7,500 students, 13 additional school personnel; and
(14) For 7,501 or more students, 14 additional school personnel.
Suicide prevention and intervention training must be repeated every 5 years.
The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. The rules must include, but are not limited to, implementation standards for suicide prevention awareness education and for suicide prevention and intervention training. Standards adopted for suicide prevention awareness education must be made available on the department’s publicly accessible website. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection before July 1, 2014 are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. Beginning July 1, 2014, rules adopted by the department pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a school administrative unit to complete and file proof of completion of suicide prevention awareness education and suicide prevention and intervention training for school personnel with the Department of Education. It also requires health education provided by a school administrative unit to students in grades 8 to 12 to include a comprehensive suicide prevention program.