The proposed bill aims to establish the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act in West Virginia, mandating the Department of Education to implement various training programs for students and school personnel. Specifically, it requires schools serving grades six through twelve to provide at least one hour of evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training, youth violence prevention training, and social inclusion training each school year. The Department of Education is tasked with developing a list of evidence-based trainings and materials, which must be made publicly available and updated every 36 months. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of student-led violence prevention clubs and an Anonymous Reporting Program to facilitate the reporting of dangerous activities in schools.

To support the implementation of these initiatives, the bill encourages the Department of Education to seek state and federal funding. It also includes definitions for key terms used throughout the legislation, such as "evidence-based" and "public safety telecommunicators." Overall, the bill aims to enhance student safety and promote mental health awareness in West Virginia schools through structured training and support systems.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-36-1, 18-36-2, 18-36-3, 18-36-4, 18-36-5, 18-36-6, 18-36-7