CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1363
Chapter 129, Laws of 2021
67TH LEGISLATURE
2021 REGULAR SESSION
K-12 WORKFORCE SECONDARY TRAUMATIC STRESS—MODEL POLICY AND PROCEDURE
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 25, 2021
Passed by the House February 25, 2021
  Yeas 58  Nays 40
LAURIE JINKINS

Speaker of the House of Representatives
Passed by the Senate April 10, 2021
  Yeas 28  Nays 21
DENNY HECK

President of the Senate
CERTIFICATE
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1363 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.
BERNARD DEAN

Chief Clerk
Chief Clerk
Approved April 26, 2021 2:16 PM
FILED
April 26, 2021
JAY INSLEE

Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1363

Passed Legislature - 2021 Regular Session
State of Washington
67th Legislature
2021 Regular Session
ByHouse Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Ortiz-Self, Callan, Davis, Ramos, Simmons, Berg, Morgan, Bergquist, Harris-Talley, and Pollet)
READ FIRST TIME 02/10/21.
AN ACT Relating to policies and resources to address secondary traumatic stress in the K-12 workforce; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.400 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. (1)(a) The legislature acknowledges that secondary traumatic stress, also called compassion fatigue, is a natural but disruptive set of symptoms that may result when one person learns firsthand of the traumatic experiences of another. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress may include feelings of isolation, anxiety, dissociation, physical ailments, and sleep disturbances. In addition, those affected by secondary traumatic stress may experience: Changes in memory and perception; alterations in their sense of self-efficacy; a depletion of personal resources; and disruption in their perceptions of safety, trust, and independence.
(b) Secondary traumatic stress may be experienced by teachers, school counselors, administrators, or other school staff. Everyday these school staff work with students experiencing trauma and loss. In addition, many students have experienced additional trauma due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on themselves and their families.
(2) The legislature finds that secondary traumatic stress is preventable and treatable. Therefore, the legislature intends to require school districts to adopt a policy and procedure to prevent and address secondary traumatic stress in the workforce and to make resources on secondary traumatic stress publicly available.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
The office of the superintendent of public instruction must publish on its website links to resources, self-assessments, and best practices for educators and local policymakers to prevent and address secondary traumatic stress in the workforce. The office of the superintendent of public instruction must collaborate with the Washington state school directors' association, the educational service districts, and the school employees' benefits board created in RCW 41.05.740 and provide links to any resources on secondary traumatic stress available through these organizations.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.400 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The Washington state school directors' association shall develop or revise, and periodically update, a model policy and procedure to prevent and address secondary traumatic stress in the workforce.
(2) The model policy and procedure must include the following elements:
(a) A commitment to support mental health in the workplace;
(b) Promotion of a positive workplace climate with a focus on diversity and inclusion;
(c) Establishment of a district-wide workforce mental health committee with the following functions:
(i) Share secondary traumatic stress, stress management, and other mental health resources and supports available through the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the educational service districts, and the school employees' benefits board created in RCW 41.05.740;
(ii) Share links to a secondary traumatic stress self-assessment tool and any associated resources; and
(iii) Report to the school district board of directors at least once per year with a summary of committee activities;
(d) Regular assessment of district-level and school building-level implementation of the policy and procedures that includes input from the workforce; and
(e) Provision of appropriate resources and training to schools and staff for continuous improvement.
(3) The model policy and procedure developed under this section must be posted publicly on the Washington state school directors' association's website by August 1, 2021. Updates to the model policy and procedure must be posted publicly within a reasonable time of development.
(4) By the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, each school district must adopt, or amend if necessary, policies and procedures that, at a minimum, incorporate all the elements described in subsection (2) of this section. School districts must periodically review their policies and procedures for consistency with updated versions of the model policy and procedure.
Passed by the House February 25, 2021.
Passed by the Senate April 10, 2021.
Approved by the Governor April 26, 2021.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 26, 2021.
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