H.R. 7092: Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act

This bill, titled the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act or the RAYS Act, aims to enhance mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts among secondary school students in the United States. Specifically, it seeks to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by introducing the following measures:

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention on ID Cards

Local educational agencies that issue identification cards to students in secondary schools will be required to include crucial mental health and suicide prevention information on these identification cards. This information must comprise:

• Contact details for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (or an alternative service as designated by the Secretary of Education)
• Contact details for the Crisis Text Line (or an alternative service as designated by the Secretary)
• A state or local suicide prevention hotline selected by the educational agency, if one is available.

Alternatives for Agencies Not Issuing ID Cards

For agencies that do not issue student ID cards, they must:

• Publish the required contact information prominently on their publicly accessible website
• Include this information on any computer portals or software platforms that secondary school students commonly use.

Inclusion Methods

Local educational agencies can choose how to incorporate the required information on student ID cards. This could include:

• Printing the information directly on the cards
• Affixing a sticker that contains the essential information
• Using any other appropriate method as determined by the agency.

Designation of Alternative Services

If a designated service (like the 988 Lifeline or Crisis Text Line) becomes unavailable, the Secretary of Education has the authority to assign an alternative service that provides similar mental health resources. The Secretary must inform local educational agencies of such designations within 60 days.

Optional Information Inclusion

Local educational agencies are encouraged to consider adding extra mental health resources to the ID cards, which could include:

• Contact information for school counselors or other mental health resources
• Information targeted to teachers, administrators, and other school personnel.

Outreach and Awareness Campaigns

The bill mandates the Secretary of Education, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to conduct awareness campaigns to inform various stakeholders—including students, parents, and school staff—about the available mental health resources. These efforts should leverage:

• School programs and websites
• Social media and various communication channels
• Accessible formats for individuals with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities.

Effective Date

The provisions requiring the inclusion of mental health and suicide prevention information on student ID cards will become effective one year after the bill is enacted. Additionally, the requirements for agencies that do not issue ID cards will go into effect 60 days following the enactment date.

Definition

The term local educational agency refers to any local educational agency that receives federal funding.

Relevant Companies

None found.