This bill amends and reenacts section 15.1-07-34 of the North Dakota Century Code to enhance training requirements for teachers, administrators, and ancillary staff regarding youth behavioral health and child abuse and neglect. It mandates that every two years, school districts provide a minimum of eight hours of professional development on these topics, with specific categories outlined for training, including trauma, suicide prevention, and child protective services. Additionally, the bill requires each school to designate a behavioral health resource coordinator and ensures that the training qualifies for continuing education credits.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new requirement for public and nonpublic school educators, administrators, librarians, and counselors to complete a mandated reporter training program for suspected child abuse or neglect before initial licensure. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with developing an online interactive training module to assist in fulfilling this requirement. The bill also repeals section 15.1-19-29, which previously addressed training for mandated reporters, streamlining the training process under the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15.1-07-34, 15.1-19-29
Adopted by the House Human Services Committee: 15.1-07-34, 15.1-19-29
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15.1-07-34, 15.1-19-29
Adopted by the Senate Human Services Committee: 15.1-07-34, 15.1-19-29
Enrollment: 15.1-07-34, 15.1-19-29