Bill Text: WV HB4602 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to student suicide prevention

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-17 - To House Finance [HB4602 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2022-HB4602-Introduced.html

FISCAL NOTEWEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4602

By Delegates Young, Clark, Kessinger, Wamsley, Ferrell, Statler, and Hornbuckle

Introduced February 09, 2022; Referred to the Committee on Education then Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-40a; and to amend and reenact §18B-1B-7 of said code, all relating to student suicide prevention; requiring suicide prevention phone numbers be printed on student identification cards for students in grades 6-12 in public schools that issue student identification cards; and requiring suicide prevention phone numbers be printed on student identification cards for students in a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.


ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.


§18-2-40b. Dissemination of information on suicide prevention.

Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section in the 2022 regular session of the Legislature, a public school that serves students in any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive, and that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255 and may have printed on either side of the student identification cards the following telephone numbers:

(1) The Crisis Text Line, which can be accessed by texting HOME to 741741; and

(2) A local suicide prevention hotline telephone number.

CHAPTER 18B. HIGHER EDUCATION.


ARTICLE 1B. HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION.


§18B-1B-7. Student mental health policies; suicide prevention.


(a) Each public and private institution of higher education shall develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus that includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Crisis intervention access, which includes information for national, state and local suicide prevention hotlines;

(2) Mental health program access, which provides information on the availability of local mental health clinics, student health services and counseling services;

(3) Multimedia application access, which includes crisis hotline contact information, suicide warning signs, resources offered and free-of-cost applications;

(4) Student communication plans, which consist of creating outreach plans regarding educational and outreach activities on suicide prevention; and

(5) Post intervention plans which include creating a strategic plan to communicate effectively with students, staff and parents after the loss of a student to suicide.

(b) Each public and private institution of higher education shall provide all incoming students with information about depression and suicide prevention resources available to students. The information provided to students shall include available mental health services and other support services, including student-run organizations for individuals at risk of or affected by suicide.

(c) The information prescribed by subsection (a), subdivisions (1) through (4) of this section shall be posted on the website of each institution of higher education in this state.

(d) Any applicable free-of-cost prevention materials or programs shall be posted on the websites of the public and private institutions of higher education, the Higher Education Policy Commission, and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

(e)  Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section by the 2022 regular session of the Legislature, a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number described in paragraph (1) of this subsection and may have printed on either side of the student identification cards the following telephone numbers:

(1) The telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255;

(2) The Crisis Text Line, which can be accessed by texting HOME to 741741;

(3) The campus police or security telephone number or, if the campus does not have a campus police or security telephone number, the local nonemergency telephone number; and

(4) A local suicide prevention hotline telephone number.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require suicide prevention phone numbers be printed on student identification cards for students in grades 6-12 in public schools and for students in a public or private institution of higher education.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

feedback