Pennsylvania SB 492: An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in suicide prevention in institutions of higher education, further providing for definitions and providing for required suicide prevention and crisis management information.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 447
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 492
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MILLER, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, FONTANA,
HAYWOOD, KANE, KEARNEY AND SAVAL, MARCH 21, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in suicide prevention in institutions of higher
education, further providing for definitions and providing
for required suicide prevention and crisis management
information.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7102 of Title 24 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 7102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Digital student identification card." A digital
identification, digital wallet, mobile identification or similar
application or representation issued by an institution of higher
education to identify and authenticate the status or information
of a student at the institution of higher education.
* * *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

"Physical student identification card." A tangible,
nondigital card or document issued by an institution of higher
education to identify and authenticate the status or information
of a student at the institution of higher education.
Section 2. Title 24 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 7103.1. Required suicide prevention and crisis management
information.
(a) Physical student identification card.--An institution of
higher education that issues a physical student identification
card to a student of the institution of higher education:
(1) Shall print on one side of the physical student
identification card "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline," or the
number published under subsection (d)(2), if applicable.
(2) May print on one side of the physical student
identification card:
(i) The National Sexual Assault Hotline.
(ii) The National Domestic Violence Hotline.
(iii) The Crisis Text Line.
(iv) The Veterans Crisis Line.
(v) Either of the following regarding the campus at
which the student regularly attends classes:
(A) The contact information for the campus
police department or security office for the campus.
(B) If the campus does not have a police
department or security office, a local nonemergency
police contact.
(vi) Either of the following regarding the campus at
which the student regularly attends classes:
(A) The contact information for the campus
health clinic.
20250SB0492PN0447 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(B) If the campus does not have a health clinic,
the contact information for a local health clinic.
(vii) A local or campus-based suicide prevention
hotline telephone number, if available.
(viii) Any other related contact information,
number, website, URL or QR Code deemed necessary or
required in the institution of higher education's plan
under section 7103 (relating to student mental health and
suicide prevention plans).
(b) Digital student identification card.--An institution of
higher education that issues a digital student identification
card to a student of the institution of higher education shall
include alongside other student resources on the digital student
identification card the information specified under subsection
(a)(1).
(c) Notice of discontinuance or change.--If either the
telephone number identified in subsection (a)(1) is discontinued
or the name or dialing code is changed, the Department of Health
shall transmit notice of the discontinuance or change to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(d) Annual review and update.--
(1) An institution of higher education shall annually
review the contact information, names and dialing codes
included on the physical student identification cards and
with the digital student identification cards to ensure that
all contact information, names and dialing codes are accurate
and current.
(2) Within 30 days of the annual review under paragraph
(1), the institution of higher education shall update all
20250SB0492PN0447 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

contact information, names and dialing codes that were
discontinued or changed since the prior annual review.
(3) If the name or dialing code regarding the 988
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been discontinued or changed:
(i) "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" shall not be
included on the physical student identification cards and
with the digital student identification cards.
(ii) The successor name and dialing code regarding
suicide prevention and crisis intervention, if any, shall
be included on the physical student identification cards
and with the digital student identification cards.
(4) The discontinuance or