Provides relative to requirements for posting suicide hotline information on school websites and student ID cards

HB 392 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:282.4(F) to expand and enhance suicide prevention information requirements for middle schools and high schools. The legislation modifies existing law that previously applied only to secondary schools by explicitly requiring both middle schools and high schools to post suicide hotline information on their websites. The amendments specify that schools must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number 988 along with an explanation that the number may be called or texted, and must include a state suicide prevention hotline number if one is available, in addition to any local hotline numbers. For schools that issue student identification cards, the law requires the same information to be printed on the back of the cards, incorporating the explanation about calling or texting and the addition of state hotline information where available.

The practical effect of this legislation extends suicide prevention communication resources to a broader student population by explicitly including middle schools in the requirements, whereas previous law focused on secondary schools without clear specification of grade levels. Students in middle schools and high schools will now have consistent access to multiple crisis resources through both school websites and student ID cards they carry daily. School administrators and governing authorities must ensure compliance by updating their websites with the required hotline information and modifying student identification card designs to include the expanded crisis resource information. Approved nonpublic schools are subject to the same requirements as public schools, creating uniform standards across school types.

This amendment operates within the existing framework of Louisiana's youth suicide prevention requirements established in R.S. 17:282.4. The statute situates suicide prevention within the broader context of student safety and violence prevention programming in schools. By specifying that state hotline numbers be included if available, the legislation creates a directory-like function on school websites and ID cards that directs students to multiple levels of crisis intervention resources, from national services like 988 to localized support networks. The requirement that schools post this information on websites and include it on identification cards recognizes the reality that students interact with both digital platforms and physical school materials, ensuring multiple pathways to access life-saving resources.