SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6449

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 Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 5, 2020

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: Senators Wellman, Wagoner, Takko, Walsh, Hunt, Zeiger, Cleveland, Kuderer, Nguyen, Das, Frockt, Hasegawa, Saldaña, Van De Wege and Wilson, C.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/31/20, 2/05/20 [DP, w/oRec].

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires schools that print student identification (ID) cards, staff ID cards, or both, to print the contact information for suicide prevention organizations on either side of the ID cards.
Requires the information to include contact information for a national suicide prevention organization and contact information for one or more campus, local, state, or national organizations specializing in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, or counseling, if available.
Applies these requirements to all public and private K-12 schools, vocational schools, institutions of higher education, and postsecondary degree-granting institutions that print ID cards.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Holy, Hunt, McCoy, Mullet, Pedersen, Salomon and Wagoner.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Padden.

Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)

Background: Student and Staff Identification Cards. The school board of each public school district may establish and collect fees from students and nonstudents at optional noncredit extracurricular events. Fees are often collected by an associated student body (ASB) organization. Many ASBs allow for the purchase of a student identification card, which is used for various purposes, and are sometimes required for participation in certain school-sponsored activities, including athletics.

Schools in all areas of higher education regularly issue ID cards to students, faculty, and staff for identification, building access, dining payments, and other uses.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In 2004, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration established the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline is a national suicide prevention network that connects callers to a network of crisis centers via a toll-free hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline's number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission proposed the creation of a national, three-digit hotline for suicide prevention and mental health, using the telephone number 988.

Summary of Bill: Every K-12 school or higher education institution that issues student ID cards, staff ID cards, or both, must print the contact information for suicide prevention organizations on either side of the ID cards. The information must include contact information for a national suicide prevention organization and contact information for one or more campus, local, state, or national organizations specializing in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, or counseling, if available.

ID card requirements shall apply to ID cards issued for the first time and those issued to replace a damaged or lost identification card. If a school has a supply of unissued ID cards that do not comply with these requirements, the school may issue those ID cards until that supply is depleted or until June 30, 2021.

The ID card requirements apply to all public and private K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, vocational schools, and postsecondary degree-granting institutions that issue student ID cards, staff ID cards, or both.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill would help put helpful information on student ID cards without additional costs to institutions. Compliance will be easy for institutions since it only applies to printing future cards.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Lisa Wellman, Prime Sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.