Legislature passes school suicide prevention training

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HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Legislature has passed a measure urging school employees to complete suicide awareness and prevention training.

Senators passed House Bill 374 on a 32-18 vote Wednesday. It now goes to Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock for his signature.

The proposal recommends that public school employees partake in two hours of suicide prevention training every five years.

According to a fiscal note, the Office of Public Instruction would need no additional funds to implement the measure because it plans to promote research-based training that's already been developed.

Montana had the highest rate of suicide in the country in 2013, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The House earlier rejected a bill that would have required suicide prevention training for certain health care professionals.