The proposed amendments align with recent legislative updates, including the new Section 1006.07(11), F.S., in House Bill 1421, which requires district school boards to adopt policies to ensure district schools and local ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0010Continuing Education and Inservice Training Materials for Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention and Criteria for Suicide Prevention Certified Schools

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed amendments align with recent legislative updates, including the new Section 1006.07(11), F.S., in House Bill 1421, which requires district school boards to adopt policies to ensure district schools and local mobile response teams use the same suicide risk assessment instrument approved by the Department of Education. The proposed amendments also address training on and administration of approved suicide risk assessments, as well as parental notification.

SUMMARY: Administration of approved suicide risk assessments.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based upon the nature of the changes, this proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of the rule changes.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1012.583(5), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1006.07(11), 1012.583(5), F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: October 20, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Caribe Royale, 8101 World Center Drive Orlando, FL 32821.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Victoria Gaitanis, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.0010 Continuing Education and Inservice Training Materials for Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention and Criteria for Suicide Prevention Certified Schools.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to set forth the suicide risk assessment instruments approved for use; to require that school districts and local community-based mental health services providers use the same instrument; to provide criteria for continuing education and in-service training materials covering youth suicide awareness and prevention; and to set forth criteria for Suicide Prevention Certified Schools.

(2)(1) Definitions. 

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) “School district” or “district” means a Florida school district, the Florida Virtual School (Section 1002.37, F.S.), the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (Section 1002.36, F.S.), and Developmental Research (Laboratory) Schools (Section 1002.32, F.S.).

(d)(c) “Suicide risk assessment” means an assessment conducted by a school-based mental health services provider or other licensed mental health professional to determine the level of suicide risk and plan of action for a student expressing suicidal ideation or suicidal intent.

(3) Use of Approved Suicide Risk Assessments.

(a) School districts must use Department-approved suicide risk assessment instruments in all district schools, per Section, 1012.583, F.S., and must adopt policies to ensure that all community-based mobile response teams use the same Department-approved instruments. Districts must consider addressing the use of suicide risk assessment instruments in contracts or interagency agreements with community-based behavioral health providers, pursuant to Section 1011.62(14)(b)2., F.S. Department-approved suicide risk assessments are posted at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/suicide-prevent.stml. 

(b) Only school-based mental health service providers who have been trained in the use of the instrument(s) adopted by their school district may give a suicide risk assessment to a student expressing suicidal ideation or suicidal intent. If a trained school-based mental health services provider is unavailable, school districts must adopt policies for contacting other certified or licensed mental health providers to evaluate students in the district for suicide risk, including the mobile response team serving the district.

(c) When a suicide risk assessment results in the initiation of an involuntary examination, public school principals, or their designees, are required to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parent(s) before the student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity, unless notification is delayed pursuant to Section 1002.20(3)(l), F.S.   

(d) When a suicide risk assessment results in a change in related services or monitoring, a student’s parent(s) must be notified as soon as possible, unless notification is withheld or delayed pursuant to policies adopted under Section 1001.42(8)(c)2., F.S.

(4)(2) Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention In-service Training for K-12 Instructional Personnel.

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) Department-approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training materials.

1. A list of approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training materials is posted on the Office of Safe Schools website at http://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/. and Student Support Services website at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/.

2. No change.

(5)(3) Suicide Prevention Certified Schools.

(a) A Suicide Prevention Certified School must meet the following criteria:

1. No change.

2. The requirement for all instructional personnel to complete youth suicide awareness and prevention training is included in the district’s continuing education or master in-service plan;

3. The school has at least two school-based mental health services providers that are qualified to conduct a suicide risk assessment using a department-approved screening instrument; and

4. The school or district has a policy requiring the use of an approved suicide risk assessment instrument administered by a school-based mental health services provider prior to requesting or initiating an involuntary examination due to concerns about a student’s suicide risk. Department-approved suicide risk assessment instruments are A list of approved suicide screening instruments is posted on the Office of Safe Schools website at http://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/. and Student Support Services website at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/.

(b) through (c) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1012.583(5) FS. Law Implemented 1012.583 FS. History‒New 6-16-20,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Victoria Gaitanis, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 8, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 5, 2022