NC S316

Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, to develop a youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and model risk referral protocol for school personnel in grades K-12.

Mandates that all school personnel who work directly with students (including teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, coaches, counselors, and administrators) receive at least two hours of training within 12 months of employment and annually thereafter.

Allows local school boards to develop their own training and protocols if they meet minimum requirements including information on suicide data, warning signs, identification of at-risk students, protective factors, and safe messaging.

Requires local school boards and charter schools to report annually by September 15 to the Department of Public Instruction on compliance with training requirements and prevention activities.

Provides liability protection for school boards, charter schools, and their employees for acts or omissions related to the training program or protocol unless the conduct amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing; effective beginning the 2018-2019 school year.