Safety Program for Students & Others at Public School

Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 26-1264 LLS NO. 26-0704.01 Owen Hatch x2698 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP English, SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None), House Committees Senate Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING INITIATIVES PROMOTING SAFER SCHOOLS. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.) The bill requires public schools to provide information to staff, students, and parents or guardians about the safe2tell program. School districts and charter schools are required to create written policy regarding safety reports and other policies related to student safety. The department of public safety is required to create a model message relating to the safe storage of firearms, preventing youth access to firearms, cybersecurity, and online safety. A school district shall annually distribute the model message to families. Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. Short title. The short title of this act is the "Student Safety and Mental Wellness in Schools Act".

SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-151 as follows:

22-1-151. School safety planning and reporting - definitions.

(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:

(a) "BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL" MEANS A FORMAL PROCESS BY WHICH A STAFF MEMBER OR SCHOOL-BASED TEAM CONNECTS A STUDENT TO APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT, OR COMMUNITY-BASED CARE, WHEN CONCERNS ARISE REGARDING THE STUDENT'S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, SAFETY, OR ABILITY TO FUNCTION SUCCESSFULLY IN A SCHOOL SETTING.

(b) "CHARTER SCHOOL" MEANS A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22 AND A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE

(c) "EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROCESS" MEANS A PROCESS GUIDED BY RESEARCH-SUPPORTED PRACTICES, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, AND STATEWIDE GUIDANCE, INCLUDING SAFE2TELL PROTOCOLS.

(d) "PUBLIC SCHOOL" MEANS A SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A CHARTER SCHOOL.

(e) "SAFE2TELL REPORT" MEANS A REPORT MADE THROUGH THE SAFE2TELL PROGRAM CREATED PURSUANT TO SECTION REGARDING CONCERNS RELATED TO STUDENT SAFETY, THREATS, SELF-HARM, BULLYING, WEAPONS, OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT MAY POSE A RISK TO INDIVIDUALS OR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.

(f) "SUPPORT AND RE-ENTRY PLAN" MEANS AN INDIVIDUALIZED, TRAUMA-INFORMED MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STUDENT AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN THAT IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS, ACCOMMODATIONS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS, PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS, AND SUPPORT THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS.

(g) PLAN "THREAT DEVELOPED ASSESSMENT" BY A MEANS SCHOOL-BASED A OR STRUCTURED, EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROCESS CONDUCTED BY A TRAINED SCHOOL-BASED OR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO IDENTIFY, EVALUATE, AND RESPOND TO BEHAVIORS OR COMMUNICATIONS THAT MAY INDICATE A RISK OF HARM TO THE STUDENT OR OTHERS, WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF EARLY INTERVENTION, CONNECTION TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE RATHER THAN DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENT.

(2) (a) A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL ANNUALLY PROVIDE STUDENTS, PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, AND STAFF WITH INFORMATION ON ANONYMOUS REPORTING THROUGH THE SAFE2TELL PROGRAM CREATED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 24-31-606, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT SAFE2TELL REPORTS AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A SAFE2TELL REPORT IS MADE.

(b) A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY COMPLY WITH THIS SUBSECTION (2) THROUGH A SCHOOL'S OR SCHOOL DISTRICT'S EXISTING HANDBOOK, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, STAFF ONBOARDING, OR AFFILIATED WEBSITE.

(3) (a) EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL ADOPT OR UPDATE A WRITTEN POLICY DESCRIBING PROCEDURES FOR:

(I) RECEIVING AND TRIAGING SAFETY REPORTS;

(II) A THREAT ASSESSMENT USING AN EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROCESS;

(III) REFERRING STUDENTS TO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS WHEN APPROPRIATE;

(IV) COORDINATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW; AND (V) CONDUCTING DEVELOPING A SUPPORT AND RE-ENTRY PLAN WHEN A STUDENT RETURNS FOLLOWING A SAFETY-RELATED INCIDENT.

(b) A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL MAY SATISFY THIS SUBSECTION (3) BY ADOPTING MODEL POLICIES OR GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER CREATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-33.5-1803 OR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

(4) (a) A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S OR CHARTER SCHOOL'S SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN MUST INCLUDE A STUDENT WELLNESS RESPONSE PATHWAY IDENTIFYING:

(I) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE WITHIN EXISTING SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY RESOURCES;

(II) CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES AND FAMILY NOTIFICATION PRACTICES CONSISTENT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PRIVACY LAWS; AND

(III) RE-ENTRY AND STABILIZATION SUPPORT FOR IMPACTED STUDENTS AND STAFF FOLLOWING A TRAUMATIC EVENT.

(b) THIS SUBSECTION (4) DOES NOT REQUIRE THE HIRING OF NEW PERSONNEL OR THE CREATION OF NEW PROGRAMS.

(5) THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER, SHALL:

(a) MAKE A MODEL MESSAGE REGARDING:

(I) SAFE FIREARM STORAGE;

(II) YOUTH ACCESS TO FIREARMS PREVENTION;

(III) CYBERSECURITY; AND

(IV) ONLINE SAFETY, INCLUDING AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE AND HOW TO SEEK HELP REGARDING:

(A) ONLINE HARASSMENT;

(B) CYBERBULLYING; AND

(C) DIGITAL THREATS; AND

(b) MAKE THE MODEL MESSAGE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

(6) (a) NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2026, AND BY JULY 1 OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTIONS (3) AND (4) OF THIS SECTION IN A FORMAT NOT TO EXCEED ONE PAGE OF TEXT. A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION IN A FORMAT NOT TO EXCEED ONE PAGE OF TEXT.

(b) A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY PUBLICLY POST CERTIFICATION ON THE DISTRICT'S OR CHARTER SCHOOL'S WEBSITE OR SUBMIT CERTIFICATION THROUGH AN EXISTING STATE REPORTING MECHANISM. A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A CHARTER SCHOOL IS NOT REQUIRED TO INCUR NEW EXPENSES TO IMPLEMENT THE SAFETY PLAN OR STUDENT WELLNESS RESPONSE PATHWAY.

(7) (a) (I) A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL IMPLEMENT SUBSECTIONS (3), (4), AND (6) OF THIS SECTION USING EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

(II) THIS SECTION DOES NOT REQUIRE A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL TO INCUR ANY NEW EXPENDITURES.

(b) A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL IMPLEMENT SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION USING EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-123 as follows: 24-33.5-123. Safe firearm storage and youth access prevention - messaging.

(1) THE DEPARTMENT, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER, SHALL, PURSUANT TO SECTION REGARDING SAFE FIREARM STORAGE AND YOUTH ACCESS PREVENTION AND MAKE THE MODEL MESSAGE AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT NO COST.

22-1-151 (5), CREATE A MODEL MESSAGE

(2) IN DEVELOPING AND DISTRIBUTING THE MODEL MESSAGE AND RELATED TRAUMA-INFORMED PROMOTE STUDENT WELL-BEING, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND SAFE REPORTING.

GUIDANCE ,

SECTION 4.

THE AND DEPARTMENT SHALL PREVENTION-FOCUSED INCORPORATE PRACTICES THAT Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.