The bill S. 31 aims to amend Section 59-1-375 of the South Carolina Code of Laws to enhance the availability of suicide prevention resources for students in both public and private schools, including charter schools, serving grades K-12. The amendment mandates that any school issuing student identification cards must print the National Suicide Prevention 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on the cards. Additionally, schools are encouraged to include contact information for at least one other crisis resource, selected based on local needs, such as the Crisis Text Line or local suicide prevention hotlines.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that institutions of higher learning must also include similar information on their student ID cards. For schools that do not issue identification cards, the bill requires them to provide the same crisis resource information in alternative formats, such as on their websites or during registration. Schools are also required to certify annually that the contact information on student IDs is current and reflects the resources listed on the South Carolina Department of Mental Health's website. This legislation is designed to ensure that students have access to vital mental health resources.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 59-1-375
Latest Version: 59-1-375