During the 2015 Legislative Session HB 374, also known at The Jason Flatt Act, was passed with an effective date of July 1, 2015.
The Jason Flatt Act of Montana
HB 374
Effective Date July 1, 2015
Montana is the 14th state to pass The Jason Flatt Act. This legislation recommends youth suicide awareness and prevention training for certain school personnel. This legislation requires mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training for teachers and principals.
An act requiring the office of public instruction to develop suicide awareness and prevention training materials for school district employees; recommending at least 2 hours of training every 5 years.
- The office of public instruction shall provide guidance and technical assistance to Montana schools on youth suicide awareness and prevention training materials. All training materials offered must be approved by the public instruction, meet the standards for professional development in the state, and be periodically reviewed by a qualified person or committee for consistency with generally accepted principles of youth suicide awareness and prevention training.
- The legislature recommends that youth suicide awareness and prevention training be made available annually to each employee of a school district and to staff of the office of public instruction who work directly with any students enrolled in Montana public schools. The training must be provided at no cost to the employee. The training may be offered through any method of training identified in subsection (3).
- The legislature recommends that employees under subsection (2) take a least 2 hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training every 5 years. Appropriate methods for delivery of the training include:
- in-person attendance at a live training;
- videoconference;
- an individual program of study of designated materials;
- self-review modules available online; and
- any other method chosen by local school board that is consistent with professional development standards.
Each of The Jason Foundation Staff Development Modules has been developed to meet a two-hour continuing education requirement for suicide awareness and prevention program. Before completing any suicide awareness training program, please check with your State Board of Education, State Teacher Certification Board or school superintendent to determine that the program meets the requirements for your State.
You will be eligible to receive your certificate once all chapters of a module have been viewed and you have successfully completed the quiz that follows.
