[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4061 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4061
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require
local educational agencies to include mental health and suicide
prevention information on student identification cards, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 11, 2026
Mr. Banks (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr.
Kaine, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Wyden)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require
local educational agencies to include mental health and suicide
prevention information on student identification cards, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide
Prevention Act'' or the ``RAYS Act''.
SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION INFORMATION ON STUDENT
IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
(a) In General.--Subpart 2 of part F of title VIII of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 8549D. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
INFORMATION ON STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
``(a) Required Information.--Each local educational agency that
receives funds under this Act--
``(1) that issues identification cards to students in
secondary schools shall ensure that such identification cards
include contact information for--
``(A) the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or an
alternative service designated by the Secretary under
subsection (c));
``(B) the Crisis Text Line (or an alternative
service designated by the Secretary under subsection
(c)); and
``(C) a State or local suicide prevention hotline
selected by the agency, if available; and
``(2) that does not issue identification cards to secondary
school students shall--
``(A) prominently publish the contact information
specified in paragraph (1) on a publicly accessible
website of the agency; and
``(B) include such information on computer portals
and software platforms regularly used by secondary
school students.
``(b) Method of Inclusion.--The information required under
subsection (a)(1) may be included on identification cards using any
method the local educational agency determines appropriate, which may
include--
``(1) printing the information directly on the cards;
``(2) affixing a sticker to the cards that contains the
information; or
``(3) other such methods.
``(c) Designation of Alternative Services.--
``(1) In general.--In the event a service described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) becomes
unavailable or ceases to operate effectively, the Secretary may
designate an alternative service that provides equivalent or
comparable mental health resources to be included on student
identification cards as required under such subsection.
``(2) Notification.--Not later than 60 days after
designating an alternative service under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
``(A) notify local educational agencies of such
designation; and
``(B) provide such agencies with the contact
information for the alternative service.
``(d) Optional Information.--In addition to the information
required under subsection (a), a local educational agency that receives
funds under this Act may consider--
``(1) including information on additional mental health
resources, such as contact information for school counselors or
school mental health resources, on student identification
cards; and
``(2) adding the information described in subsection (a)(1)
to identification cards issued to teachers, administrators, and
other school personnel.
``(e) Outreach.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services and the heads of other appropriate
agencies, shall conduct outreach and awareness campaigns to inform
students, parents, school personnel, and the public about the mental
health resources described in subsection (a). Such outreach efforts
shall--
``(1) include the dissemination of information through
school-based programs, websites, social media, and other
communication channels; and
``(2) provide information in a manner that is accessible to
students and community members with physical, developmental,
and intellectual disabilities.
``(f) Applicability.--
``(1) Physical id cards.--The requirements of subsection
(a)(1) shall apply with respect to student identification cards
issued by local educational agencies that receive funds under
this Act for school years beginning after the effective date of
this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require the modification of a student identification card
issued before such effective date.
``(2) Other information.--The requirements of subsection
(a)(2) shall apply beginning 60 days after the effective date
of this section.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
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