RAYS Act

Summary#

This bill, called the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention (RAYS) Act, adds a new rule to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It requires local educational agencies that issue secondary school student identification cards to include contact information for: (A) the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (or a Secretary-designated alternative), (B) the Crisis Text Line (or a Secretary-designated alternative), and (C) a State or local suicide prevention hotline if available.

If a local educational agency does not issue student ID cards, the agency must prominently publish the same contact information on a publicly accessible agency website and include it on computer portals and software platforms regularly used by secondary students. The law allows agencies to add the information by printing it on cards, affixing stickers, or other methods the agency chooses.

If 988 or the Crisis Text Line become unavailable or stop operating effectively, the Secretary may designate an alternative service and must notify local agencies and provide contact details within 60 days. Agencies may also choose to include additional mental health resources (for example, school counselor contact information) and may add the required information to IDs issued to teachers and other school staff.

The Secretary, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other agency heads, must run outreach and awareness campaigns using school programs, websites, social media, and other channels. Outreach must be accessible to people with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. The new ID-card requirements apply for school years starting after the law's effective date; the website and portal requirements begin 60 days after the effective date. The amendments take effect one year after enactment. The bill defines a "local educational agency" as one that receives Federal funds.

What it means for you#

• Secondary school students in districts that issue ID cards should see suicide and crisis hotline contact information on their student IDs.
• If your school does not use ID cards, the same contacts should be easy to find on the school district website and student portals.
• Schools may also share additional campus mental health contacts and may put these contacts on staff IDs.
• Federal outreach campaigns are required to inform students, parents, and school staff and to make information accessible to people with disabilities.
• The rules take effect one year after the law is enacted (with some website/portal parts starting 60 days after the effective date).

Expenses#

No publicly available information on funding or cost estimates is included in the bill text. The bill does not specify federal funds, grants, or cost-sharing to cover printing, stickers, website updates, or outreach activities.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.