Strengthen suicide prevention efforts in schools

This bill requires Montana school districts to provide annual suicide awareness and prevention training to all employees who work directly with students, with the Office of Public Instruction responsible for approving training materials and ensuring low-cost or no-cost options are available. The law mandates that employees complete at least two hours of training every five years through various methods including in-person sessions, online modules, or self-study, and requires school districts to include these training requirements in their suicide prevention policies. Additionally, the bill includes a legal protection clause stating that no lawsuits can be filed against school districts or employees for losses resulting from implementing or failing to implement the training requirements. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.