HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1909        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jack Patrick Lewis and Natalie M. Higgins

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to student mental health.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1909        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1999 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to student mental health.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 37R the following section:-

Section 37S. A public school, including a charter school, that serves students in any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive, and that issues new or replacement student identification cards to enrolled students shall include on such cards the telephone and text message number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

SECTION 2. Chapter 73 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 21. A public or private institution of higher education that issues new or replacement student identification cards to enrolled students shall include on such student identification cards the telephone and text message number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

SECTION 3. As of the effective date of this act, if a public school subject to section 37S of chapter 71 of the General Laws or a public or private institution of higher education subject section 21 of chapter 73 of the General Laws has a supply of unissued student identification cards that do not comply with the requirements of said section 37S of said chapter 71 or said section 21 of said chapter 73, the school may issue such student identification cards to students until such remaining supply is depleted.

SECTION 4. Section 37S of chapter 71 of the General Laws and section 21 of chapter 73 of the General Laws shall apply to student identification cards issued on or after July 1, 2025.