(1) The department, with assistance from the office of suicide prevention created pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w)(I), the Colorado youth advisory council created pursuant to section 2-2-1302, and the suicide prevention commission created pursuant to section 25-1.5-111, shall create and maintain a resource bank of evidence-based, research-based, and promising program materials and curricula pertaining to mental health, which materials and curricula may be used in elementary and secondary schools in the state. The resource bank and curricula must be youth-friendly, culturally sensitive, and available in both English and Spanish. In creating the resource bank and curricula, the department may provide internet links to resources and materials pertaining to mental health available from other entities that the department finds reliable. Additionally, the department shall solicit input from persons, including youth, within and outside of the mental health profession, including both community and school mental health professionals. Subject to available appropriations, the department shall solicit requests for information and may contract for:

• (a) The organization and enhancement of the resource bank, including materials on the prevention of suicide and education on mental health;

• (b) The development of mental health curricula for schools and providing such curricula to schools; and

• (c) Training for educators and school staff concerning mental health.

(2) On and after July 1, 2020, the department shall make material in the resource bank available without charge to school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative services, professional educators, parents or guardians of youth, students, and community providers. At the request of a school district, charter school, institute charter school, or board of cooperative services, the department shall provide technical assistance to the school district, charter school, institute charter school, or board of cooperative services in designing age-appropriate curricula pertaining to mental health.

(3) The materials and resources available to students must be developed and updated with input from youth.

(4) School districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, and boards of cooperative services are encouraged to report to the department on the effectiveness of the resource bank and curricula and to recommend changes to improve the resource bank or curricula. The department is encouraged to update the resource bank and curricula based on recommendations from school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative services, professional educators, parents or guardians of youth, students, and community providers.

(3) (b) A professional licensee shall complete such ongoing professional development within the period of time for which such professional license is valid. Such professional development may include, but need not be limited to, in-service education programs, including programs concerning juvenile mental health issues and the awareness and prevention of youth suicide and training in preventing, identifying, and responding to child sexual abuse and assault; college or university credit from an accepted institution of higher education or a community, technical, or local district college; educational travel that meets the requirements specified in subsection (3)(d) of this section; involvement in school reform; service as a mentor teacher for teacher candidates participating in clinical practice, as defined in section 23-78-103; internships; and ongoing professional development training and experiences.

(1) There is hereby created within the department the school safety resource center to assist schools in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and crisis situations and to foster positive learning environments. The director of the center shall be appointed by the executive director pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution. ...

(3) The center has the following duties: ... (n)

• (I) To act as a resource for school districts, public schools, charter schools, and institute charter schools concerning crisis and suicide prevention training; and

• (II) To work collaboratively with the office of suicide prevention in the department of public health and environment concerning the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program created in section 25-1.5-113.

(1) The department [of Health] has, in addition to all other powers and duties imposed upon it by law, the powers and duties provided in this section as follows: …

• (IV) The department and the office of suicide prevention may collaborate with the school safety resource center and with each facility licensed or certified pursuant to section 25-1.5-103 in order to coordinate crisis and suicide prevention services, including relevant training and other services as part of the Colorado suicide prevention plan established in section 25-1.5-112. When a facility treats a person who has attempted suicide or exhibits a suicidal gesture, the facility may provide oral and written information or educational materials to the person or, in the case of a minor, to parents, relatives, or other responsible persons to whom the minor will be released, prior to the person's release, regarding warning signs of depression, risk factors of suicide, methods of preventing suicide, available suicide prevention resources, and any other information concerning suicide awareness and prevention. The department and the office of suicide prevention may work with facilities and the Colorado suicide prevention plan to determine whether and where gaps exist in suicide prevention programs and services, including gaps that may be present in:

• (A) The information and materials being used and distributed in facilities throughout the state;

• (B) Resources available to persons who attempt suicide or exhibit a suicidal gesture and, when the person is a minor, to parents, relatives, and other responsible persons to whom a minor is released; and

• (C) The process for referring persons who attempt suicide or exhibit a suicidal gesture to suicide prevention services and programs or other appropriate health care providers for treatment.

(2) (a) There is created in the department the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to provide financial assistance for the provision of comprehensive crisis and suicide prevention training annually, if grant funding is available, for all teachers and staff at public schools and school districts in Colorado who work directly or indirectly with students. Priority for grant awards is for public schools and school districts with educators and staff who have not yet received such training. The grant program may authorize up to four hundred thousand dollars in grants per year in varying amounts based on the size and need of the public school or school district.

• (b) On and after January 1, 2019, a public school or a school district may apply to the department for a grant pursuant to the guidelines adopted in subsection (3) of this section to provide crisis and suicide prevention training in the public school or school district.

• (c) The department shall administer the grant program in consultation with the office of suicide prevention and the school safety resource center.

• (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the department is not required to implement the provisions of this section until sufficient money has been transferred or appropriated to the fund.

(3) (a) On or before November 1, 2018, the office of suicide prevention and the school safety resource center shall make recommendations to the department for the administration of the grant program, and the department shall adopt formal training guidelines for the grant program. The guidelines must include:

• (I) Application procedures by which public schools and school districts may apply for a grant pursuant to this section;

• (II) Criteria to utilize in selecting public schools and school districts to receive grants and in determining the amount of grant money to be awarded to each grant recipient. The criteria, at a minimum, must include:

• (A) That first priority for grant awards is to provide crisis and suicide prevention training to public schools and school districts that have not previously received such training;

• (B) An emphasis on providing such training to all staff at the public school or school district, not just educators; and

• (C) A requirement that each application, at a minimum, must describe how the applicant public school or school district will use a grant award to provide comprehensive crisis and suicide prevention training to all educators and staff who have not yet received such training.

• (b) If there is money remaining in the fund after grants are made to all public schools or school districts that applied for a grant and that had not previously received crisis and suicide prevention training, the department may award grants to a public school or school district that had previously received such training.

• (c) The office of suicide prevention and school safety resource center shall assist the department with reviewing grant applications, making recommendations to the department on which public schools and school districts that applied must receive a grant from the grant program and the amount of each grant, and acting as a resource for grantees.

(4) (a) Each grant recipient shall submit a written report to the department not later than six months after the expiration of the term of its grant. The report must include a summary of activities made possible by the grant money.

• (b) The department shall include in the report required pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w)(III)(A) the following information regarding the administration of the grant program during the preceding year:

• (I) The number of public schools and school districts that received a grant from the grant program;

• (II) The amount of each grant award by recipient;

• (III) The number of pupils who are enrolled at each public school or school district of each grant recipient;

• (IV) The number of school staff and educators who were provided training as a result of a grant; and

• (V) A copy of the grant recipients' crisis and suicide prevention plans.