During the 2015 legislative session, HB2186, also known as The Jason Flatt Act in memory of Jonathan Childers, was passed with an effective date of June 19, 2015.
The Jason Flatt Act
HB 2186
Effective June 19, 2015
Texas was the sixteenth state to pass The Jason Flatt Act. This law states suicide prevention training must be provided on an annual basis, as part of new employee orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators and to existing school district and open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule.
Major components of the legislation are:
- The suicide prevention training must use a best practice-based program recommended by the Department of State Health Services in coordination with the agency under Section 161.324, Health and Safety Code.
- The suicide prevention training may be satisfied through independent review of suicide prevention training material that: complies with the guidelines developed by the agency; and is offered online.
- The Act applies beginning with the 2015 – 2016 school year.
- The Jason Flatt Act was passed in honor of Jonathan Childers, a 15 year old student from Fairfield ISD who took his life.
