SB11 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Health, suicide prevention, K-12, annual education training, Jason Flatt Act, established

Summary

The Jason Flatt Act requires annual suicide awareness and prevention training for certificated public K-12 school personnel and creates school policies to guide suicide prevention efforts.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Education to set up rules so all certificated public school staff receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention, delivered through in-service or required professional development. directs the department to approve training materials, including guidance on identifying mental health services and how to refer students and families, with some options for self-review. Requires local school systems to adopt a suicide prevention policy addressing prevention, intervention, and postvention, and to use a department-provided model policy. Provides legal protections stating that no one can be sued or held liable simply for implementing the act or for the training itself, and that the training does not create a specific duty of care.

Who It Affects

• Certificated public K-12 school personnel (teachers, counselors, administrators) who must complete annual suicide awareness and prevention training.
• Local school systems and their students and families, who must develop and follow suicide prevention policies and access approved prevention resources, with oversight from the Department of Education.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Jason Flatt Act to address student health and suicide prevention in K-12 public schools.
• Requires the Department of Education to adopt rules requiring annual suicide awareness and prevention training for certificated school personnel, delivered within existing in-service or professional development.
• Requires the department to develop and approve training materials, including information on identifying mental health services and referrals, with possible use of self-review programs.
• Requires local school systems to adopt a suicide prevention policy developed with stakeholders and professionals; the department will provide a model policy.
• States that no cause of action or duty of care is created by implementing the act or the required training.
• Effective date: becomes law three months after its passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health