Establishes provisions relating to students at risk of suicide or self-harm

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3488
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE WILLIAMS.
7135H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 170.048, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to
students at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 170.048, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 170.048, to read as follows:
170.048. 1. By July 1, 2018, each district shall adopt a policy for youth suicide
2 awareness and prevention, including plans for how the district will provide for the training
3 and education of its district employees.
4 2. (1) Each district's policy shall address and include, but not be limited to, the
5 following:
6 [ (1) ] (a) Strategies that can help identify students who are at possible risk of suicide;
7 [ (2) ] (b) Strategies and protocols for helping students at possible risk of suicide; and
8 [ (3) ] (c) Protocols for responding to a suicide death.
9 (2) By July 1, 2027, the district's policy under subdivision (1) of this subsection
10 shall include pr otocols for helping students who may be at risk of self-harm.
11 3. By July 1, 2017, the department of elementary and secondary education shall
12 develop a model policy that districts may adopt. When developing the model policy , the
13 department shall cooperate, consult with, and seek input from or ganizations that have
14 expertise in youth suicide awareness and prevention. By July 1, 2021, and at least every three
15 years thereafter , the department shall request information and seek feedback from districts on
16 their experience with the policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention. The department
17 shall review this information and may use it to adapt the department's model policy . The
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 department shall post any information on its website that it has received from districts that it
19 deems relevant. The department shall not post any confidential information or any
20 information that personally identifies any student or school employee.
21 4. (1) Beginning July 1, 2025, a public school or charter school that serves any pupils
22 in grades seven to twelve and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either
23 side of the cards:
24 (a) The three-digit dialing code that directs calls and routes text messages to the
25 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988; and
26 (b) The nonemer gency telephone number of the local police department; and
27 (c) May have printed on either side of the cards:
28 a. The six-digit dialing code that routes text messages to the Crisis T ext Line, 741741;
29 and
30 b. The telephone number of a local suicide prevention hotline, if such hotline is
31 available.
32 (2) If, on July 1, 2025, a public school or charter school subject to the requirements of
33 this subsection has a supply of unissued pupil identification cards that do not comply with the
34 requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the school shall issue those cards until that
35 supply is depleted.
36 (3) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to a pupil identification card issued
37 for the first time to a pupil and to a card issued to replace a damaged or lost card.
38 5. (1) Beginning July 1, 2027, the district's policy under subsection 2 of this
39 section shall include protocols for teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or
40 other school personnel to r eport to a designated staff member at the school any student
41 who is at possible risk of suicide or a student who has mentioned self-harm.
42 (2) The designated staff member , upon any report made under subdivision (1) of
43 this subsection, shall immediately notify the par ent or legal guardian of the student who
44 is at possible risk of suicide or who has mentioned self-harm, and if necessary , children's
45 services may be contacted. The designated staff member shall perform a risk
46 assessment on such student, and the student shall not be r eleased fro m school until the
47 par ent or legal guardian has recei ved notification under this subdivision.
48 (3) Notification to the par ent or legal guardian shall be re peated until the par ent
49 or legal guardian pr ovides confirmation that he or she is awar e that his or her child is at
50 risk of possible suicide or self-harm.
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51 (4) T eachers, counselors, principals, administrators, or other school personnel
52 shall be immune fr om civil liability or employment discipline for any action taken under
53 this subsection.
✔
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