Bill > HB1264

This bill, titled the "Student Safety and Mental Wellness in Schools Act," mandates that public schools, including charter schools, must inform staff, students, and parents or guardians about the anonymous reporting system known as Safe2Tell, which allows for reporting concerns about student safety, threats, self-harm, bullying, weapons, or other risks. School districts and charter schools are required to establish written policies detailing procedures for receiving and evaluating safety reports, conducting threat assessments using evidence-based methods, referring students for behavioral health support when needed, coordinating with law enforcement when legally required, and creating support and re-entry plans for students returning after safety-related incidents. The bill also requires schools to develop a student wellness response pathway that outlines available behavioral health resources, crisis response services, and re-entry support following traumatic events, without necessitating the hiring of new personnel or creation of new programs. Furthermore, the Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the School Safety Resource Center, must develop a model message on safe firearm storage, preventing youth access to firearms, cybersecurity, and online safety, including awareness of online harassment, cyberbullying, and digital threats, which must be provided to all schools at no cost and distributed annually to families. School districts and charter schools must certify their compliance with these safety and wellness plan requirements annually, using existing resources and appropriations.

Education

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1264