Bill Text: NJ S1417 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: "Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act"; requires institutions of higher education to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on website.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-11 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S1417 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S1417-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator KEVIN J. O'TOOLE
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
"Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act"; requires institutions of higher education to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on website.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the reporting of certain information by institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 3B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act."
2. Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, an institution of higher education shall provide for public inspection on its website information concerning the total number of students enrolled in the institution who committed suicide or attempted suicide in the prior academic year. The institution shall update the information annually.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill is entitled the "Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act." Madison Holleran, a track star at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, New Jersey, committed suicide in January of 2014 while enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania.
The bill requires an institution of higher education, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, to provide for public inspection on its website information concerning the total number of students enrolled in the institution who committed suicide or attempted suicide in the prior academic year. Under the bill, an institution must update the information annually.
According to the "2013 Youth Suicide Report" issued by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for New Jersey youth ages 10-24. The most recent data for 2010-2012 shows that of the 233 youth suicides in New Jersey, 72% were committed by young adults ages 19-24.
Requiring an institution of higher education to provide information on students enrolled in the institution who commit suicide or attempt suicide will help raise awareness of this critical issue.
