2021 Utah Code
Title 53G - Public Education System -- Local Administration
Chapter 9 - Health and Welfare
Part 7 - Suicide Prevention
Section 702 - Youth suicide prevention programs -- State board to develop model programs.

Universal Citation: UT Code § 53G-9-702 (2021)
Effective 5/5/2021
53G-9-702. Youth suicide prevention programs -- State board to develop model programs.
  • (1) As used in the section:
    • (a) "Elementary grades" means:
      • (i) kindergarten through grade 5; and
      • (ii) if the associated middle or junior high school does not include grade 6, grade 6.
    • (b) "Intervention" means an effort to prevent a student from attempting suicide.
    • (c) "Postvention" means mental health intervention after a suicide attempt or death to prevent or contain contagion.
    • (d) "Program" means a youth suicide prevention program described in Subsection (2).
    • (e) "Public education suicide prevention coordinator" means an individual designated by the state board as described in Subsection (4).
    • (f) "Secondary grades" means:
      • (i) grades 7 through 12; and
      • (ii) if a middle or junior high school includes grade 6, grade 6.
    • (g) "State suicide prevention coordinator" means the state suicide prevention coordinator described in Section 62A-15-1101.
  • (2) In collaboration with the public education suicide prevention coordinator, a school district or charter school shall implement a youth suicide prevention program, which, in collaboration with the training, programs, and initiatives described in Section 53G-9-607, shall include programs and training to address:
    • (a) for elementary grades and secondary grades:
      • (i) life-affirming education, including on the concepts of resiliency, healthy habits, self-care, problem solving, and conflict resolution;
      • (ii) methods of strengthening the family; and
      • (iii) methods of strengthening a youth's relationships in the school and community; and
    • (b) for secondary grades:
      • (i) prevention of youth suicide;
      • (ii) decreasing the risk of suicide among youth who are:
        • (A) not accepted by family for any reason, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth; or
        • (B) suffer from bullying;
      • (iii) youth suicide intervention; and
      • (iv) postvention for family, students, and faculty.
  • (3) Each school district and charter school shall ensure that the youth suicide prevention program described in Subsection (2):
    • (a) considers appropriate coordination with the following prevention programs:
      • (i) the prevention of bullying and cyber-bullying, as those terms are defined in Section 53G-9-601; and
      • (ii) the prevention of underage drinking of alcohol and substance abuse under Section 53G-10-406; and
    • (b) includes provisions to ensure that the school district or charter school promptly communicates with the parent or guardian of a student in accordance with Section 53G-9-604.
  • (4) The state board shall:
    • (a) designate a public education suicide prevention coordinator; and
    • (b) in collaboration with the Department of Health and the state suicide prevention coordinator, develop model programs to provide to school districts and charter schools:
      • (i) program training; and
      • (ii) resources regarding the required components described in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
  • (5) The public education suicide prevention coordinator shall:
    • (a) oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of school districts and charter schools; and
    • (b) coordinate prevention and postvention programs, services, and efforts with the state suicide prevention coordinator.
  • (6) A public school suicide prevention program may allow school personnel to ask a student questions related to youth suicide prevention, intervention, or postvention.
  • (7)
    • (a) Subject to legislative appropriation, the state board may distribute money to a school district or charter school to be used to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide in the school district or charter school.
    • (b) The state board shall ensure that an LEA's allocation of funds from the board's distribution of money under Subsection (7)(a) provides an amount equal to at least $1,000 per school.
    • (c)
      • (i) A school shall use money allocated to the school under Subsection (7)(b) to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide.
      • (ii) Each school may select the evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide that the school implements.
  • (8) An LEA may not charge indirect costs to the program.


Amended by Chapter 105, 2021 General Session
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