Letter provides detail on Board priority to support student mental and emotional wellbeing, particularly to prevent youth suicide as Act [270] (SB383) intends.

Manual provides guidance on emergency response to suicide attempt or serious injury.

(a) The department, in collaboration with the department of health, shall develop a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and a model risk referral protocol for complex areas and charter schools based on the department of health's existing suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and materials, which shall be provided to teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and counselors.

(b) By September 15 of each year, each complex area shall report to the department on prior school year training prevention activities completed as described by this section.

(c) Neither the department nor any of its agencies, boards, members, personnel, designees, agents, or volunteers shall be liable in civil damages to any party for any act or omission of an act relating to the provision of, participation in, or implementation of the components of the training program or protocol required by this section unless that act or omission amounts to gross negligence, wilful and wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.

(d) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to include and require contracted workers to participate in and comply with the suicide awareness and prevention training program and risk referral protocol requirements under this section and section 302D-36. [L 2019, c 270, §1]