New Jersey Assembly Bill A1127

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

"Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act"; requires institutions of higher education to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on website.

Impact

The legislation is positioned to address a pressing public health issue, as highlighted by recent studies indicating that suicide is the third-leading cause of death among New Jersey youth between the ages of 10 and 24. By mandating the annual reporting of this sensitive data, the bill is expected to raise awareness about mental health issues within academic settings and prompt educational institutions to consider how they can support their students better. This transparency may also encourage the implementation of preventative measures that could reduce the prevalence of such tragic events in the future.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1127, also known as the 'Madison Holleran Proper Reporting Act,' aims to enhance transparency regarding student suicides and suicide attempts at institutions of higher education in New Jersey. The bill requires these institutions to publicly post information concerning the total number of students who commit suicide or attempt suicide in the prior academic year on their websites. This information must be updated annually, starting from the 2019-2020 academic year, thereby ensuring that data is consistently available and up-to-date for public inspection.

Contention

Despite its noble intentions, A1127 could face controversy regarding the ethical implications of posting such sensitive information. Critics may raise concerns about the potential for exacerbating stigma surrounding mental health issues and the possibility of negatively impacting the reputation of institutions based on the publicized statistics. Additionally, questions regarding privacy and the handling of sensitive information could also create contention among stakeholders, including universities, students, and mental health advocates.