ORS 339.343 Comprehensive district plans on student suicide prevention; rules

This section shall be known and may be cited as Adi’s Act.

In accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority, each school district shall adopt a policy requiring a comprehensive district plan on student suicide prevention for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

A plan required under this section must include:

Procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention and activities that reduce risk and promote healing after a suicide;

Identification of the school officials responsible for responding to reports of suicidal risk;

A procedure by which a person may request a school district to review the actions of a school in responding to suicidal risk;

Methods to address the needs of high-risk groups, including:

Youth bereaved by suicide;

Youth with disabilities, mental illness or substance use disorders;

Youth experiencing homelessness or out-of-home settings, such as foster care; and

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other minority gender identities and sexual orientations;

A description of, and materials for, any training to be provided to school employees as part of the plan, which must include:

When and how to refer youth and their families to appropriate mental health services; and

Programs that can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials; and

Any other requirement prescribed by the State Board of Education by rule, based on consultations with state and national suicide prevention organizations, suicide experts and school-based mental health providers, and based on reviews of national models.

A school district may consult with state or national suicide prevention organizations, the Department of Education, school-based mental health professionals, parents, guardians, school employees, students, administrators and school board associations when developing the plan required under this section.

The plan required under this section:

Must be written to ensure that a school employee acts only within the authorization and scope of the employee’s credentials or licenses. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing or encouraging a school employee to diagnose or treat mental illness unless the employee is specifically licensed and employed to do so.

Must be:

Made available annually to the community of the school district, including students of the school district, parents and guardians of students of the school district, and employees and volunteers of the school district.

Readily available at the school district office and on the school district website, if applicable.

A school district that does not comply with the requirements of this section is considered to be nonstandard under ORS 327.158.