53G-8-802.  State Safety and Support Program — State board duties — LEA duties.

(1)  There is created the State Safety and Support Program.

Terms Used In Utah Code 53G-8-802

  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2)  The state board shall:

(a)  develop in conjunction with the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health model student safety and support policies for an LEA, including:

(i)  evidence-based procedures for the assessment of and intervention with an individual whose behavior poses a threat to school safety;

(ii)  procedures for referrals to law enforcement; and

(iii)  procedures for referrals to a community services entity, a family support organization, or a health care provider for evaluation or treatment;

(b)  provide training:

(i)  in school safety;

(ii)  in evidence-based approaches to improve school climate and address and correct bullying behavior;

(iii)  in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may pose a threat to the school community;

(iv)  in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may be showing signs or symptoms of mental illness;

(v)  on permitted disclosures of student data to law enforcement and other support services under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g;

(vi)  on permitted collection of student data under 20 U.S.C. § 1232h and Sections 53E-9-203 and 53E-9-305; and

(vii)  for administrators on rights and prohibited acts under:

(A)  6;

(B)  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.;

(C)  Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.;

(D)  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.; and

(E)  the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.;

(c)  conduct and disseminate evidence-based research on school safety concerns;

(d)  disseminate information on effective school safety initiatives;

(e)  encourage partnerships between public and private sectors to promote school safety;

(f)  provide technical assistance to an LEA in the development and implementation of school safety initiatives;

(g)  in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety, develop and make available to an LEA a model critical incident response training program that includes:

(i)  protocols for conducting a threat assessment, and ensuring building security during an incident, as required in Section 53G-8-701.5;

(ii)  standardized response protocol terminology for use throughout the state;

(iii)  protocols for planning and safety drills; and

(iv)  recommendations for safety equipment for schools including amounts and types of first aid supplies;

(h)  provide space for the public safety liaison described in Section 53-1-106 and the school-based mental health specialist described in Section 26B-5-211;

(i)  create a model school climate survey that may be used by an LEA to assess stakeholder perception of a school environment and, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules:

(i)  requiring an LEA to:

(A)  create or adopt and disseminate a school climate survey; and

(B)  disseminate the school climate survey;

(ii)  recommending the distribution method, survey frequency, and sample size of the survey; and

(iii)  specifying the areas of content for the school climate survey; and

(j)  collect aggregate data and school climate survey results from each LEA.

(3)  Nothing in this section requires an individual to respond to a school climate survey.

(4)  The state board shall require an LEA to:

(a) 

(i)  review data from the state board-facilitated surveys containing school climate data for each school within the LEA; and

(ii)  based on the review described in Subsection (4)(a)(i):

(A)  revise practices, policies, and training to eliminate harassment and discrimination in each school within the LEA;

(B)  adopt a plan for harassment- and discrimination-free learning; and

(C)  host outreach events or assemblies to inform students and parents of the plan adopted under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B);

(b)  no later than September 1 of each school year, send a notice to each student, parent, and LEA staff member stating the LEA’s commitment to maintaining a school climate that is free of harassment and discrimination; and

(c)  report to the state board:

(i)  no later than August 1, 2023, on the LEA’s plan adopted under Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(B); and

(ii)  after August 1, 2023, annually on the LEA’s implementation of the plan and progress.

Amended by Chapter 328, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 383, 2023 General Session

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