PRINTER'S NO. 1180
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
330
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for suicide prevention in institutions of
higher education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 24 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 71
SUICIDE PREVENTION IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Sec.
7101. Scope of chapter.
7102. Definitions.
7103. Student mental health and suicide prevention plans.
ยง 7101. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to suicide prevention in institutions of
higher education.
ยง 7102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Education enterprise." An educational activity in this
Commonwealth:
(1) for which college credits or continuing education
units are awarded, continuing professional education is
offered or tuition or fees are charged or collected; and
(2) that is sponsored by a corporation, entity or
institution that is incorporated or authorized by other means
in a state other than this Commonwealth and is approved and
authorized to operate in this Commonwealth under Chapter 65
(relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries)
and 15 Pa.C.S. Pt. II Subpt. B (relating to business
corporations) or C (relating to nonprofit corporations).
"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:
(1) A community college which is an institution now or
hereafter created pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School
Code of 1949, or the act of August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132,
No.484), known as the Community College Act of 1963.
(2) An independent institution of higher education which
is an institution of higher education located in and
incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth, entitled to
confer degrees as set forth in section 6505 (relating to
power to confer degrees) and entitled to apply to itself the
designation "college," "university" or "seminary" as provided
for by standards and qualifications prescribed by the State
board under Chapter 65.
(3) A State-owned institution.
(4) A State-related institution.
(5) An education enterprise.
20170SB0330PN1180 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
ยง 7103. Student mental health and suicide prevention plans.
(a) Plan required and minimum required contents.--Each
institution of higher education shall develop and implement a
plan to advise students and staff on mental health and suicide
prevention programs available both on campus and off campus. The
mental health and suicide prevention plan shall, at a minimum,
include:
(1) Contact information for national, State and local
suicide prevention hotlines.
(2) Crisis intervention services, which shall include
providing the address, telephone number or any other contact
information of individuals with training and experience in
mental health issues who focus on suicide prevention. An
institution of higher education shall make individuals with
training and experience available on campus or remotely for
students 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(3) Mental health services and access, which shall
include providing the necessary information to access mental
health services, including, but not limited to, health
promotion and wellness, student health and counseling, crisis
services, local mental health providers and mental health
clinics.
(4) Multimedia access, which shall include mental health
and suicide warning signs, services available to individuals
at no cost and available mental health and suicide prevention
resources, which may include mobile applications.
(5) Student communication plans, which shall consist of
outreach plans regarding, at a minimum, mental health
services and suicide prevention.
(6) Postintervention plans, which shall include a
20170SB0330PN1180 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
process to create a strategic plan to communicate effectively
with students, staff and parents after the loss of a student
to suicide.
(b) Public posting.--An institution of higher education
shall post on the institution's publicly accessible Internet
website the following:
(1) The mental health and suicide prevention plan
adopted by the institution of higher education.
(2) Applicable free prevention materials or programs.
(c) Information for students.--The following shall apply:
(1) An institution of higher education shall provide all
incoming students with the information required under
subsection (a)(1) and (2).
(2) No less than twice a calendar year, an institution
of higher education shall transmit to each student by mail or
e-mail the information under subsection (a)(1) and (2).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 120 days.
20170SB0330PN1180 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17