(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Department" means the department of public health and environment created andexisting pursuant to section 25-1-102.
"Fund" means the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program fund established in subsection (5) of this section.
"Grant program" means the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.
"Office of suicide prevention" means the office of suicide prevention in the department, established pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w).
"Public school" means a school of a school district, a district charter school, or aninstitute charter school.
"School district" means any public school district existing pursuant to law.
"School safety resource center" means the school safety resource center in the department of public safety, established pursuant to section 24-33.5-1803.
(2) (a) There is created in the department the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to provide financial assistance for the provision of comprehensive crisis and suicide prevention training annually, if grant funding is available, for all teachers and staff at public schools and school districts in Colorado who work directly or indirectly with students. Priority for grant awards is for public schools and school districts with educators and staff who have not yet received such training. The grant program may authorize up to four hundred thousand dollars in grants per year in varying amounts based on the size and need of the public school or school district.
On and after January 1, 2019, a public school or a school district may apply to thedepartment for a grant pursuant to the guidelines adopted in subsection (3) of this section to provide crisis and suicide prevention training in the public school or school district.
The department shall administer the grant program in consultation with the office ofsuicide prevention and the school safety resource center.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the department is not required toimplement the provisions of this section until sufficient money has been transferred or appropriated to the fund.
(3) (a) On or before November 1, 2018, the office of suicide prevention and the school safety resource center shall make recommendations to the department for the administration of the grant program, and the department shall adopt formal training guidelines for the grant program. The guidelines must include:
Application procedures by which public schools and school districts may apply for agrant pursuant to this section;
Criteria to utilize in selecting public schools and school districts to receive grantsand in determining the amount of grant money to be awarded to each grant recipient. The criteria, at a minimum, must include:
That first priority for grant awards is to provide crisis and suicide prevention trainingto public schools and school districts that have not previously received such training;
An emphasis on providing such training to all staff at the public school or schooldistrict, not just educators; and
A requirement that each application, at a minimum, must describe how the applicantpublic school or school district will use a grant award to provide comprehensive crisis and suicide prevention training to all educators and staff who have not yet received such training.
If there is money remaining in the fund after grants are made to all public schools orschool districts that applied for a grant and that had not previously received crisis and suicide prevention training, the department may award grants to a public school or school district that had previously received such training.
The office of suicide prevention and school safety resource center shall assist thedepartment with reviewing grant applications, making recommendations to the department on which public schools and school districts that applied must receive a grant from the grant program and the amount of each grant, and acting as a resource for grantees.
(4) (a) Each grant recipient shall submit a written report to the department not later than six months after the expiration of the term of its grant. The report must include a summary of activities made possible by the grant money.
(b) The department shall include in the report required pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w)(III)(A) the following information regarding the administration of the grant program during the preceding year:
The number of public schools and school districts that received a grant from the grantprogram;
The amount of each grant award by recipient;
The number of pupils who are enrolled at each public school or school district ofeach grant recipient;
The number of school staff and educators who were provided training as a result ofa grant; and
A copy of the grant recipients' crisis and suicide prevention plans.
(5) (a) There is established in the state treasury the crisis and suicide prevention training grant program fund. The fund consists of money transferred or appropriated to it and any other money that may be made available by the general assembly. The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department for the direct and indirect costs associated with implementing the grant program. Any money not provided as grants may be invested by the state treasurer as provided in section 24-36-113. All interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of money in the fund must be credited to the fund. Any amount remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year must remain in the fund and not be credited or transferred to the general fund or to any other fund.
No more than three percent of the money annually expended from the fund may beused for the expenses incurred by the department in administering the grant program.
The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations from public and private sources to implement this section; except that the department shall not accept a gift, grant, or donation that is subject to conditions that are inconsistent with the provisions of this section or any other law of the state. The department shall transfer all private and public money received through gifts, grants, and donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the fund.
Nothing in this section requires the department to solicit money for the purposes ofimplementing the grant program.
Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (SB 18-272), ch. 333, p. 2002, § 2, effective August 8.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 18-272, see section 1 of chapter 333, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.