Late last week, a House Education subcommittee unanimously recommended passage of HF 2176 to the full committee and chamber. This important bill concerns prevention of suicide among adolescents. The incidence of these tragedies has increased in recent years. In Iowa, suicide is now the second leading cause of death (after unintentional injuries) among young people aged 15-34. The bill would require school employee training relating to suicide prevention. Teachers and other educators in the schools would take part in a statewide suicide prevention program to learn to recognize the specific early symptoms that indicate at-risk students; 80 percent of young people exhibit warning signs that they are considering ending their own life. Teachers, coaches, and other school personnel would also be trained in the resources available to direct students where they could access professional help. Many teenagers experience trauma but may not have the perspective and assistance to get through a particularly troubling experience. This early intervention has the potential to save lives.
Another bill that I’m pleased to report is making progress through the Statehouse is similar to one that I had tried to put through in the House last year. SF 2251 directs DHS to change its rules to require hospitals and mental health facilities to report the severity of mental disability, behavioral health, and substance abuse that the facility can accept and treat. The bill directs DHS to coordinate with the Department of Public Health to study expanding, procuring and implementing enhancements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system in real time. The bill would require DHS to report on the progress of the study to the governor and legislature by Dec. 15 of this year. It also directs DHS to collaborate with the Medicaid MCOs to research feasibility and implementation of reimbursement in real time to psychiatric providers. This bill has made it out of a Senate Human Resources subcommittee.
A bill that passed out the House Education subcommittee this week would make American Sign Language (ASL) an accredited high school course. It would label ASL as a “world language.” It is a different language than English and is recognized internationally. Several other states offer ASL in secondary school and it is taught in all 3 Iowa Regents universities, but it’s currently rarely taught in Iowa secondary schools. The bill would allow more Iowans to start studying the language at a younger age. The Deaf Community is supportive of offering ASL in secondary schools; it would be a benefit to deaf people and the entire community if more hearing people were fluent in ASL and able to communicate directly with deaf people.
I’m pleased to report the bill that would increase flexibility of public schools to use resources (HSB650) passed out of the Education Committee on the last day of the funnel week. I was assigned to this bill’s subcommittee. Last year we passed legislation that helped school flexibility, and this year we worked to further that goal. Funds sometimes get “siloed” in separate restrictive areas, but the school districts in Iowa vary greatly in what they need to spend resources on. By further loosening restrictions, schools are better able to prioritize spending that suits their particular district. There was plenty of discussion on which category regulations should be eased. Talented and gifted programs (TAG) money will be protected, and the new rules allow continued funding to teacher professional development. But the bill does increase flexibility in using categorical funds which will benefit Jasper County schools.
At the end of the week we saw the SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) funding bill, HSB 647, pass out of the House Education Committee. This will extend the use of SAVE dollars through January 1, 2050. This will allow our school districts to breathe a sigh of relief about planning future infrastructure and maintenance projects.
Contact Breckenridge at 515-281-3221 or wes.breckenridge@legis.iowa.gov