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Senate Advances Bill Requiring Two Hours of Suicide-Prevention PD for Educators
Summary
Senate approved advancing first-substitute House Bill 501, which requires licensed school employees to complete two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training once every five years; sponsor said materials will be provided by the State Board of Education and integrated into existing professional development cycles.
The Senate advanced first substitute House Bill 501, a measure requiring licensed school employees to complete two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training once every five years as part of the teacher license cycle.
Senator Maine, presenting the bill, cited state survey numbers to argue Utah has higher-than-national rates of youth suicidal ideation and attempts and said the State Board of Education will develop sample materials for incorporation into districts' professional development. "They are not teaching the children," Maine said on the floor; "they're just being aware of the signs for the children they teach." Senator Erckhart asked how many total professional-development hours occur in a cycle and whether this requirement would overburden educators; Maine replied that the training would be incorporated into existing professional-development requirements and would not impose additional costs.
Senator Maine waived further summation and asked that HB 501 be placed on the third-reading calendar. The roll-call tally recorded in the Senate journal shows the bill received 20 yea votes, 2 nay votes and 7 absent and will be placed at the bottom of the third-reading calendar.
Quote: "This legislation requires that educators receive 2 hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training once every 5 years," said Senator Maine.
Next steps: HB 501 will sit on the third-reading calendar; sponsors said the State Board of Education will prepare materials and districts will incorporate the training into existing license renewal cycles.
