TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "JASON FLATT ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REQUIRE TWO HOURS OF TRAINING IN YOUTH SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE RENEWAL OF CREDENTIALS FOR INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING AND MATERIALS THAT MAY BE USED BY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY APPROVE TRAINING MATERIALS FOR TRAINING THEIR EMPLOYEES; TO PROVIDE THAT THIS TRAINING REQUIREMENT MAY BE SATISFIED THROUGH SELF REVIEW OF SUICIDE PREVENTION MATERIALS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO CAUSE OF ACTION RESULTS FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the "Jason Flatt Act".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 26, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-110. (A)    Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the Department of Education shall require two hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention as a requirement for the renewal of credentials of individuals employed in a middle school or high school as defined in Section 59-1-150. The required training shall count toward the one hundred twenty renewal credits specified in Department of Education regulations for renewal of credentials.

(B)(1)    The department shall develop guidelines suitable for training and materials that may be used by schools and districts; however districts may approve materials to be used in providing training for employees.

(2)    The training required in this section may be accomplished through self-review of suicide prevention materials that meet guidelines developed by the Department of Education.

(C)    No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this section or resulting from any training, or lack of training, required by this section unless the loss or damage was caused by wilful or wanton misconduct. The training, or lack of training, required by the provisions of this section must not be construed to impose any specific duty of care."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval of the Governor.