1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
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3 SENATE BILL 175 By: Floyd
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
7 Section 24-100.7, which relates to suicide awareness
8 and drug abuse policies; naming act Evan’s Law;
8 providing short title; directing certain training to
9 be provided at minimum frequency; updating statutory
9 language; providing an effective date; and declaring
10 an emergency.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 24-100.7, is
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15 amended to read as follows:
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16 Section 24-100.7. A. This act shall be known and may be cited
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17 as “Evan’s Law”.
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18 B. The board of education of each school district in this state
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19 shall adopt a policy regarding suicide awareness and training,
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20 requiring staff training, and the reporting of student drug abuse.
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21 B. C. The board of education of each school district in this
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22 state shall provide district-wide training to all staff on at least
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23 a biennial basis addressing suicide awareness and prevention. The
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24 Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall make
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 1 available to school districts curriculum for staff which addresses
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2 suicide awareness and prevention, without cost to the school
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3 districts. The course outline for the curriculum shall be made
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4 available to the public online through the school district website.
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5 Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, every school district
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6 shall:
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7 1. Provide a suicide prevention training program which includes
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8 as a core element evidence-based approaches;
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9 2. Provide the curriculum made available by the Department of
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10 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; or
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11 3. Provide a suicide prevention training program that is
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12 selected by the school district from a list maintained by the
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13 Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to school
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14 district staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The
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15 training program may be combined with any other training provided by
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16 the school district addressing bullying prevention.
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17 C. D. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the board of
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18 education of each school district may provide training to address
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19 suicide awareness and prevention to students in grades seven through
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20 twelve.
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21 D. E. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, and
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22 other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline
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23 and any civil liability for:
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 1 1. Calling the 911 emergency telephone number, law enforcement,
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2 or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses
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3 a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or
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4 been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act;
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5 2. Providing referral, emergency medical care, or other
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6 assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or
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7 3. Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or
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8 alcohol abuse or a potential safety threat by or to any student to
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9 the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement
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10 officers, or health care providers.
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11 E. F. No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or
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12 damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the
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13 implementation of this section or resulting from any training, or
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14 lack thereof, required by this section, unless the loss or damage
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15 was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.
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16 F. G. The training required pursuant to this section, or the
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17 lack thereof, shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of
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18 care.
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19 G. H. The board of education of each school district may enter
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20 into agreements with designated Youth Services Agencies youth
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21 services agencies for the provision of intervention and prevention
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22 services.
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23 H. I. Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or
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24 other school personnel, upon determining that a student is at risk
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 1 of attempting suicide, shall notify the parents or legal guardians
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2 of the student immediately upon determining that such risk exists.
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3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
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4 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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5 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
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6 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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7 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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9 59-1-1273 EB 1/6/2023 11:00:19 AM
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