HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2589

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Education

Title: An act relating to requiring contact information for suicide prevention and crisis intervention organizations on student and staff identification cards.

Brief Description: Requiring contact information for suicide prevention and crisis intervention organizations on student and staff identification cards.

Sponsors: Representatives Callan, Rude, Pollet, Orwall, Doglio, Steele, Kilduff, Caldier, Davis, Corry, Senn, Ybarra, Thai, Ramos, Ryu, Santos, Leavitt, Gildon, Bergquist, J. Johnson, Frame and Macri.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 1/30/20, 2/3/20 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires, within existing resources, public elementary and secondary schools, and public institutions of higher education, that issue student or staff identification cards to have printed on newly issued or replacement cards: the contact information for a national suicide prevention organization; and the contact information for one or more campus, local, state, or national organizations specializing in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, or counseling, if available.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Steele, Ranking Minority Member; McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Volz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Callan, Corry, Harris, Ortiz-Self, Rude, Stonier, Thai, Valdez and Ybarra.

Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).

Background:

The 2019-21 Omnibus Operating Budget directed the public institutions of higher education (community and technical colleges, University of Washington, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College) to include the phone number of a campus, local, state, or national suicide, crisis, or counseling hotline on the back of newly issued student and faculty identification cards starting in fall quarter 2019, or as soon as is practicable to implement.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Within existing resources, public elementary and secondary schools, and public institutions of higher education, that issue student identification cards, staff identification cards, or both, must have printed on newly issued and replacement identification cards:

Unissued identification cards that do not meet this requirement can be issued until the supply is depleted or until June 30, 2021, whichever comes first.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill only requires that the public elementary and secondary schools, and the public institutions of higher education, print specified information on identification cards, rather than requiring this of both public and private elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools.  In addition, the substitute bill requires that the information be printed on the identification cards within existing resources.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill will ensure that all students have access to crisis supports through their student identification card. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 19. According to the 2018 Healthy Youth Survey, 23 percent of grade 10 students and 22 percent of grade 12 students considered suicide in the past year. Those who use a crisis hotline are helped.

At a federal level, the national crisis prevention number is being changed to a 988 number, in comparison to 911. This will allow quicker access to this national resource. The policy in the bill is written so that the language will not have to change when the 988 number becomes active. It is also important to give local school districts the flexibility to add crisis numbers to their identification cards if they choose to.

Students want easy access to crisis numbers, and do not want to have to go to a student handbook or website to get the information. Youth have asked for this bill. The Children's Mental Health Work Group also heard about the need for this policy.

In any circumstance, having this information directly accessible can and will save lives. This is a small but mighty policy change that will help put contact numbers for crisis resources into the hands of more teenagers.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Callan, prime sponsor; and Logan Endres, Washington State School Directors' Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.