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Introduced Version House Bill 3110 History

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FISCAL NOTEFISCAL NOTEWEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3110

By Delegates Young, Wamsley, Higginbotham, Thompson, Hornbuckle, Zukoff, Walker and Barach

[Introduced March 12, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2-40 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; 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.


§18-2-40. Suicide prevention awareness training; dissemination of information.


(a)(1) Legislative findings. — The Legislature recognizes that the State of West Virginia has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation, and that suicide serves as one of the leading causes of death in our state.

(2) The Legislature further finds that nationwide, suicide rates amongst adolescents and young adults are on the rise.  As a result of disrupted families, poverty, and the opioid crises which have severely affected a significant number of families across this state, West Virginia’s students face a number of issues which may increase their risk of suicide.

(3) Consequently, the Legislature finds that it is imperative that those in our education system closest to our students receive training to increase their ability to better recognize students who may be exhibiting signs that they are at risk of suicide.

(b) On or before September 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall provide for the routine education of all professional educators, including principals and administrators, and those service personnel having direct contact with students on warning signs and resources to assist in suicide prevention under guidelines established by the state board.  The education may be accomplished through self-review of suicide prevention materials and resources approved by the state board. 

(c) On or before September 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, a public middle and high school administrator shall disseminate and provide opportunities to discuss suicide prevention awareness information to all middle and high school students.  The information may be obtained from the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities or from a commercially developed suicide prevention training program approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the bureau to assure the accuracy and appropriateness of the information.

(d) Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section in the 2021 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.

(d) (e) The provisions of this section shall be known as Jamie’s Law.

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 2021 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) 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.

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