By Paul Maryniak | East Valley Tribune
In a rare display of bipartisanship, Democrats and Republicans in the State Legislature unanimously passed a bill requiring suicide prevention training for all school personnel who deal with students in grades 6 through 12.
Responding to the anguish of parents who lost sons and daughters to suicide – including 33 in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Queen Creek and five others in neighboring communities since July 2017 – both chambers last week wasted little time in passing the bill.
The bill mandates training every three years for teachers, administrators and even bus drivers who have contact with kids and teens in public and charter schools. The training must be “evidence-based” – meaning that it must have proven effectiveness in helping to identify suicidal tendencies and knowing how to respond.
The training will not be required until the 2020-21 school year and at the behest of some lawmakers, notably Gilbert Republican Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, school personnel would not be held civilly liable for any actions in connection with the bill except in cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.
Awaiting Gov. Doug Ducey’s signature at press time, the bill was sponsored by state Sen. Sean Bowie, an Ahwatukee Democrat whose district also includes parts of Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.
