A. The board of education of each school district in this state may adopt a policy regarding suicide awareness and training and the reporting of student drug abuse.

B. The board of education of each school district in this state may provide schoolwide training to all students in grades seven through twelve and staff addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall develop and make available to school districts curriculum which addresses suicide awareness and prevention, without cost to the school districts. The course outline for the curriculum shall be made available to the public online through the school district website. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, every school district may:

1. Provide a suicide prevention training program which includes as a core element research-based approaches and that is developed by the school district;

2. Provide the curriculum made available by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; or

3. Provide a suicide prevention training program that is selected by the school district from a list maintained by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to students and school district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The training program may be combined with any other training provided by the school district addressing bullying prevention.

C. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators and other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline and any civil liability for:

1. Calling the 911 emergency telephone number, law enforcement or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act;

2. Providing referral, emergency medical care or other assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or

3. Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or alcohol abuse or a potential safety threat by or to any student to the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement officers or health care providers.

D. No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of this section or resulting from any training, or lack thereof, required by this section, unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

E. The training required pursuant to this section, or the lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of care.

F. School districts may enter into agreements with designated Youth Services Agencies for the provision of intervention and prevention services.

G. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or other school personnel, upon determining that a student is at risk of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardians of the student immediately upon determining that such risk exists.

Added by Laws 2014, c. 333, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 2014.