AN ACT to require suicide prevention education be part of the school‑based mental health policy of a public school.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑376.5 reads as rewritten:

§ 115C‑376.5.  School‑based mental health plan required.

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(b)        School‑Based Mental Health Policy. – The State Board of Education shall adopt a school‑based mental health policy that includes (i) minimum requirements for a school‑based mental health plan for K‑12 school units and (ii) a model mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and model suicide risk referral protocol for K‑12 school units. Consistent with this section, the model mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and model suicide risk referral protocol shall meet all of the following requirements:

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(2)        The model suicide risk referral protocol shall be provided to school personnel who work with students in grades six through 12 and provide both of the following:

a.         Guidelines on the identification of students at risk of suicide.

b.         Procedures and referral sources that address actions that should be taken to address students identified in accordance with this subdivision.

(3)        Suicide prevention education shall be provided to all licensed educators. The material will cover the educator's role in youth suicide awareness in more detail than the model mental health training. This training may be accomplished through self‑review of suitable suicide prevention materials approved by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction shall make suicide prevention education materials available at no cost to K‑12 school units.

(c)        School‑Based Mental Health Plan. – Each K‑12 school unit shall adopt a plan for promoting student mental health and well‑being that includes, at a minimum, the following:

(1)        Minimum requirements for a school‑based mental health plan established by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(2)        A mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and a suicide risk referral protocol that are consistent with the model programs developed by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(d)       Training and Protocol Requirements. – Each K‑12 school unit shall provide its adopted mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and suicide risk referral protocol to school personnel at no cost to the employee. Employees shall receive an initial mental health training of at least six hours and subsequent mental health trainings of at least two hours. The initial mental health training shall occur within the first six months of employment. Subsequent mental health trainings shall occur in the following school year and annually thereafter. Additionally, school personnel shall complete one hour of suicide prevention education each year to coincide with subsequent mental health trainings. In the discretion of the K‑12 school unit, the initial mental health training may be waived in the event the employee completed an initial mental health training at another K‑12 school unit. School personnel may meet mental health training and suicide prevention education requirements in any of the following ways:

(1)        Electronic delivery of instruction.

(2)        Videoconferencing.

(3)        Group, in‑person training.

(4)        Self‑study.

(5)        Completion of approved programs.

(e)        Review and Update. – Beginning August 1, 2025, and every five years thereafter, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall review the State Board of Education's minimum requirements for a school‑based mental health plan, model mental health training program, suicide prevention education, and model suicide risk referral protocol and recommend any needed changes to the State Board of Education. The State Board shall update its policies to reflect those recommendations and publish the updates to K‑12 school units. A K‑12 school unit shall update its adopted school‑based mental health plan in accordance with any updates provided by the State Board.

(f)        Reporting; State Audit. – By September 15 of each year, each K‑12 school unit shall report to the Department of Public Instruction on (i) the content of the school‑based mental health plan adopted in the unit, including the mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and suicide risk referral protocol, and (ii) prior school year compliance with requirements of this section. The Department of Public Instruction may also audit K‑12 school units at appropriate times to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. The Department shall report the information it receives pursuant to this subsection to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by December 15 of each year.

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(h)        Limitation of Civil Liability. – No governing body of a K‑12 school unit, nor its members, employees, designees, agents, or volunteers, shall be liable in civil damages to any party for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission relating to the provision of, participation in, or implementation of any component of a school‑based mental health plan, mental health training program, a suicide prevention education requirement, or suicide risk referral protocol required by this section, unless that act or omission amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose any specific duty of care or standard of care on a K‑12 school unit.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑218.75(h) reads as rewritten:

(h)      School‑Based Mental Health Plan Required. – A charter school shall adopt a school‑based mental health plan, including a mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and suicide risk referral protocol, in accordance with G.S. 115C‑376.5.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(16) reads as rewritten:

(16)    School‑based mental health plan required. – A regional school shall adopt a school‑based mental health plan, including a mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and suicide risk referral protocol, in accordance with G.S. 115C‑376.5.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(18) reads as rewritten:

(18)    School‑based mental health plan required. – A laboratory school shall adopt a school‑based mental health plan, including a mental health training program program, a suicide prevention education requirement, and suicide risk referral protocol, in accordance with G.S. 115C‑376.5.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.