Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

SSB 6141

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Strengthening school district plans for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators McCoy, Wellman, Van De Wege, Keiser, Hasegawa and Kuderer; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop an online one-hour training module for school staff on the recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students.

Hearing Date: 2/20/18

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

In addition to its constitutional charge of supervising all matter pertaining to public schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and its office has numerous and broad responsibilities prescribed in statute related to Washington's 295 school districts and 1.1 million public school students.

According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), suicide is the second leading cause of death for Washington youth between the ages of 10 and 24. Information from the DOH also indicates that, on average, each week in Washington two youths commit suicide and 17 youths are hospitalized because of suicide attempts.

Legislation adopted in 2014 (chapter 103, Laws of 2014, enacted as Substitute Senate Bill 6431) directed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to work with state agency and community partners to assist schools in implementing youth suicide prevention activities. Examples of these prevention activities include:

Additionally, individuals certified by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) as a school nurse, school social worker, school psychologist, or school counselor must complete a training program of at least three-hours in duration on youth suicide screening and referral as a condition of certification. The standards for the minimum content of the training program are adopted by the PESB in consultation with the OSPI and the DOH.

At the regional level, each of Washington's nine educational service districts is required to develop and maintain the capacity to offer training for educators and other school district staff on youth suicide screening and referral, and on recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students.

Regarding local obligations, school districts must adopt a plan for the recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students, including indicators of possible substance abuse, violence, youth suicide, and sexual abuse. This plan must be provided to all district staff on an annual basis, and must satisfy numerous minimum content requirements, including addressing:

Summary of Bill:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the OSPI must develop and make available an online a one-hour training module for school staff on recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students to assist school districts in meeting the staff training component in locally adopted plans for the recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students.

The one-hour online training module does not replace the requirement for school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses to complete an approved three-hour suicide prevention training program, and school staff may complete the three-hour suicide prevention program training in lieu of the one-hour online module.

Staff training provisions in requirements governing school district plans for the recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students are modified to reference the OSPI's one-hour online training module in materials that identify training opportunities that may be available to staff.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.