1. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and secondary education the “Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative”.

2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall consult the department of mental health and the department of social services for assistance in fulfilling the requirements of this section.

3. The department of elementary and secondary education shall:

(1) Provide information regarding the trauma-informed approach to all school districts;

(2) Offer training on the trauma-informed approach to all school districts, which shall include information on how schools can become trauma-informed schools; and

(3) Develop a website about the trauma-informed schools initiative that includes information for schools and parents regarding the trauma-informed approach and a guide for schools on how to become trauma-informed schools.

4. Each school district shall provide the address of the website described under subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of this section to all parents of the students in its district before October first of each school year.

5. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

(1) “Trauma-informed approach”, an approach that involves understanding and responding to the symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma and traumatic stress across the lifespan;

(2) “Trauma-informed school”, a school that:

(a) Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;

(b) Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, teachers, and staff;

(c) Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into its policies, procedures, and practices; and

(d) Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.

1. Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, any licensed educator may annually complete up to two hours of training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention as part of the professional development hours required for state board of education certification.

2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop guidelines suitable for training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention. The department shall develop materials that may be used for such training or professional development.

3. For purposes of this section, the term “licensed educator” shall refer to any teacher with a certificate of license to teach issued by the state board of education or any other educator or administrator required to maintain a professional license issued by the state board of education.

4. The department of elementary and secondary education may promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.

5. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2016, shall be invalid and void.