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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 270 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1237
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and WorcesterJack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/24/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/29/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/6/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/15/2023Ryan C. FattmanWorcester and Hampden2/26/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex3/8/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 270 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1237
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1237) of Joanne M. Comerford,
Jack Patrick Lewis, Susannah M. Whipps, Vanna Howard and other members of the General
Court for legislation relative to student mental health. Mental Health, Substance Use and
Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1266 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 37R the following section:-
3 Section 37S. (a) A public school, including a charter school, that serves students in any of
4grades 6 to 12, inclusive, that issues student identification cards shall include on the student
5identification cards the telephone and text number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
6 (b) Subsection (a) shall apply to a student identification card issued to a new student and
7to a student identification card issued to replace a student’s damaged or lost student identification
8card. 2 of 2
9 SECTION 2. Chapter 73 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
10section 20 the following section:-
11 Section 21. (a) A public or private institution of higher education that issues student
12identification cards shall include on the student identification cards the telephone and text
13number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
14 (b) Subsection (a) shall apply to a student identification card issued to a new student and
15to a student identification card issued to replace a student’s damaged or lost student identification
16card.
17 SECTION 3. (a) The provisions of section 37S of chapter 71 of the General Laws shall
18take effect as of July 1, 2023; provided that if, as of July 1, 2023, a school subject to the
19requirements of said section has a supply of unissued student identification cards that do not
20comply with the section, the school may issue those student identification cards to students until
21that supply is depleted.
22 (b) The provisions of section 21 of chapter 73 of the General Laws shall take effect as of
23July 1, 2023; provided that if, as of July 1, 2023, a public or private institution of higher
24education subject to the requirements of said section has a supply of unissued student
25identification cards that do not comply with the section, the school may issue those student
26identification cards to students until that supply is depleted.