Rhode Island HB 7196: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT

Bill Text

2024 -- H 7196 SUBSTITUTE A 
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S T A T E     O F     R H O D E     I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 
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A N   A C T 
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT 
Introduced  By: Representatives  Casimiro,  Bennett,  McEntee,  Spears,  Carson,  Knight, 
and Noret 
Date Introduced: January 17, 2024 
Referred To: House Education 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno 1 
and Jason Flatt Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2 
CHAPTER 16-21.7 3 
The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act 4 
CHAPTER 16-21.7 5 
THE NATHAN BRUNO, JASON FLATT, AND ALICIA BIROS BEREAVEMENT ACT 6 
SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21.7 of the General Laws entitled "The Nathan Bruno and Jason 7 
Flatt Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 8 
16-21.7-5. Emergency  response  and  crisis  management  upon  death  of  a  student  or 9 
staff member.     10 
(a) Each public school district shall adopt a policy for the immediate response to the death 11 
of  a  student  or  staff  member  which  may  include,  within  and  using  administrative  discretion,  a 12 
period to be commenced upon the death of the student or staff member or at such other times as the 13 
administration determines is appropriate under the particular circumstances, during which time the 14 
local education agency (LEA) shall provide school schedule modifications that foster a supportive 15 
school climate for responding proactively to losses that impact students and staff. 16 
(b) Modifications to the school schedule pursuant to this section may include, but not be 17 
limited to, time allowances provided for students and/or staff to attend services for the deceased; 18 
time allowances dedicated to training staff to support grieving students; time allowances to attend 19 

 
 
 
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school-sponsored grief counseling; and time allowances to process grief privately in separate areas 1 
and/or  support  rooms  within  the  school  separate  and  apart  from  the  classroom  setting  where  a 2 
student may have privacy. 3 
(c) Time allowances provided pursuant to this section shall be considered part of the school 4 
day for purposes of § 16-19-1. 5 
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 6 
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EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT 
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This act would require public school districts to adopt a policy for responding to the death 1 
of a student or staff member. This act would also amend the title of chapter 16-21.7 to "The Nathan 2 
Bruno, Jason Flatt, and Alicia Biros Bereavement Act." 3 
This act would take effect upon passage. 4 
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