ASSEMBLY, No. 4897
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED OCTOBER 17, 2024
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Higher Education Committee on December 9, 2024, with amendments.
An Act concerning student suicide prevention and amending P.L.2021, c.261.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.261 (C.18A:6-113.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. A public school that includes any of the grades seven through 12 and that issues student identification cards shall have printed on the back of the student identification cards the telephone number for [the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline (NJ Hopeline) and contact information for a crisis text line] mental health and suicide crisis resources, as determined by the Commissioner of 1[Education] Human Services1, in consultation with the Commissioner of 1[Human Services] Education1. A public school may, in addition to the telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources, provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or any other mental health support service.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.261, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2021, c.261 (C.18A:3B-73.1) is amended to read as follows:
2. An institution of higher education that issues student identification cards shall have printed on the back of the student identification cards the telephone number for [the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline (NJ Hopeline) and contact information for a crisis text line] mental health and suicide crisis resources, as determined by the 1[Secretary of Higher Education] Commissioner of Human Services1, in consultation with the 1[Commissioner of Human Services] Secretary of Higher Education1.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.261, s.2)
3. Section 3 of P.L.2021, c.261 (C.18A:3B-73.2) is amended to read as follows:
3. [A public school that includes any of the grades seven through 12 and that issues student identification cards, and an] An institution of higher education that issues student identification cards[,] may, in addition to the telephone number for [the NJ Hopeline and contact information for a crisis text line] mental health and suicide crisis resources, provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, an on-campus crisis center, or any other mental health support service.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.261, s.3)
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to 1new student and replacement student identification cards issued in1 the first full school year or academic year, as applicable, next following the date of enactment.