The Senate referred House Bill 1559 to the Appropriations Committee. It provides for training in youth suicide awareness and prevention for educators in buildings serving students in grades 6-12. The bill requires schools, within 90 days, to adopt a youth suicide awareness and prevention policy that includes reporting procedures and methods of prevention, intervention and postvention. The school entity must inform its employees of the policy, make available education and resources and incorporate age-appropriate education into the curriculum. The Department of Education must maintain on its website a list of approved resources, training materials and age-appropriate education that schools may use.

Source: PSBA Legislative Report, Jan. 16, 2014.