Date: 10/27/2015

Final
Student Safety: St. Vrain Valley School District

SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH IN CRISIS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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02:58 PM -- Student Safety: St. Vrain Valley School District

Former Senate President Brandon Shaffer introduced himself and staff distributed a proposal titled the School Safety Confidential Information Act (Attachment D). According to Senator Shaffer, there are very few exceptions under state law where a mental health professional can share information, and he wants to carve out an exception. Senator Newell expressed support for the proposal. Ms. O'Donnell asked for clarification about the reporting process. Senator Shaffer responded that communication would be restricted to within the school. He said that his policy would not be proscriptive about identifying specific people within the school and instead to allow the schools to decide that for themselves.

15SchoolSafety1027AttachD.pdf15SchoolSafety1027AttachD.pdf

Ms. Weinerman asked for clarification about what would occur when a patient makes a direct threat. She asked whether having an exception would create a dampening effect on the therapeutic relationship. Senator Shaffer replied that it might, but said that under HIPAA, there are already some restrictions. He said it depends on professional judgment and this is the policy issue he is asking for the committee to discuss.

Ms. Harms asked for clarification between the proposal and a therapist's duty to warn in current law. Senator Shaffer reviewed the disclosure of confidential communications found in Section 12-43-218, C.R.S. and said that he wants to add a direct threat against a school or occupants, rather than specific persons.


03:17 PM

Representative Willett discussed an expulsion in the St. Vrain School District following a threat assessment. President Cadman and Senator Shaffer discussed the proposal and the accountability mechanism for protecting confidentiality.


03:24 PM

The committee took a brief recess.