1. By July 1, 2018, each district shall adopt a policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention, including plans for how the district will provide for the training and education of its district employees.

2. Each district’s policy shall address and include, but not be limited to, the following:

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 170.048

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(1) Strategies that can help identify students who are at possible risk of suicide;

(2) Strategies and protocols for helping students at possible risk of suicide; and

(3) Protocols for responding to a suicide death.

3. By July 1, 2017, the department of elementary and secondary education shall develop a model policy that districts may adopt. When developing the model policy, the department shall cooperate, consult with, and seek input from organizations that have expertise in youth suicide awareness and prevention. By July 1, 2021, and at least every three years thereafter, the department shall request information and seek feedback from districts on their experience with the policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention. The department shall review this information and may use it to adapt the department’s model policy. The department shall post any information on its website that it has received from districts that it deems relevant. The department shall not post any confidential information or any information that personally identifies any student or school employee.

4. (1) Beginning July 1, 2023, a public school or charter school that serves any pupils in grades seven to twelve and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the cards the three-digit dialing code that directs calls and routes text messages to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988.

(2) If, on July 1, 2023, a public school or charter school subject to the requirements of this subsection has a supply of unissued pupil identification cards that do not comply with the requirements of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the school shall issue those cards until that supply is depleted.

(3) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to a pupil identification card issued for the first time to a pupil and to a card issued to replace a damaged or lost card.