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Committee backs requirement for brief, recurring youth suicide-prevention training for school staff
Summary
Senate Bill 369 would require at least one hour of youth suicide awareness and prevention training for school employees every three years (with flexibility on delivery and no-cost options). The House Education Committee adopted an amendment clarifying the training timing and advanced the bill.
Senate Bill 369, presented to the House Education Committee by Sen. Mike Yakawich, would require school employees to receive youth suicide awareness and prevention training at least once every three years. The sponsor described the bill as a collaborative measure drafted with the Office of Public Instruction (OPI), the State Board of Public Education and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The bill’s amendment narrows the timing to one hour every three years rather than the older language that had been interpreted inconsistently.
Yakawich said the bill is intended to be practical for educators, who face many mandated trainings, and to bolster early identification of students with suicidal ideation. Proponents — including representatives from OPI, NAMI Montana, the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana and tribal health representatives — said the training should be accessible at no cost, available in-person or online, and applicable to all school employees (not only licensed teachers). Carl Roston of DPHHS, an informational witness, said trainers usually keep attendance records and that schools can provide renewal units for the training; he also said the department and its partners use evidence‑based, “gatekeeper” training approaches recognized by SAMHSA and the CDC.
Committee members discussed how training is tracked. School districts and school boards commonly adopt policy to require specific trainings and superintendents maintain training lists; there is no single statewide collection of attendance for all trainings. Several committee members urged a reporting or monitoring mechanism to ensure the training is occurring; Yakawich said the bill’s language and the amendment are intended to clarify frequency and that OPI and the Board of Public Education are working on implementation details.
The committee adopted the amendment and approved the bill in executive action. Representative Eiseley will carry the measure to the floor.
