AN ACT to require schools to share the suicide and crisis lifeline phone number in various ways.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:

(70)    To Provide Students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Phone Number. – A local board of education shall adopt a policy to ensure all schools in the local school administrative unit provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The board shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, schools shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the schools shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

a.         On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subdivision requires a school to issue a student ID.

b.         On the school website.

c.         On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

d.         On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

e.         On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

f.          On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(37)    To provide students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number. – The board of trustees shall provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The board shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the board shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the board shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

a.         On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subdivision requires a school to issue a student ID.

b.         On the school website.

c.         On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

d.         On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

e.         On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

f.          On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 115C‑218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(p)      To Provide Students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Phone Number. – A charter school shall provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The school shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the school shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the school shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

(1)        On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subsection requires a school to issue a student ID.

(2)        On the school website.

(3)        On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

(4)        On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

(5)        On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

(6)        On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 1.(d)  G.S. 115C‑238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(23)    To provide students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number. – A regional school shall provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The school shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the school shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the school shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

a.         On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subdivision requires a school to issue a student ID.

b.         On the school website.

c.         On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

d.         On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

e.         On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

f.          On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 1.(e)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(26)    To provide students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number. – A laboratory school shall provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The school shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the school shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the school shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

a.         On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subdivision requires a school to issue a student ID.

b.         On the school website.

c.         On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

d.         On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

e.         On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

f.          On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 1.(f)  Part 4 of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑566.5.  Provide students the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number.

The board of directors, or equivalent authority, of a school operating pursuant to Part 1 or Part 2 of this Article shall provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The school shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the school shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the school shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

(1)        On any new student identification (student ID) issued to a student in grades six through 12. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this section requires a school to issue a student ID.

(2)        On the school website.

(3)        On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

(4)        On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

(5)        On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

(6)        On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 115D‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(aa)     The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy requiring all community colleges to provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The State Board shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the community colleges shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the community colleges shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

(1)        On any new student identification (student ID) issued. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subsection requires a school to issue a student ID.

(2)        On the school website.

(3)        On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

(4)        On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

(5)        On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

(6)        On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 3.  G.S. 116‑11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(3d)    The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy requiring all constituent institutions to provide students the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Board of Governors shall verify that the phone number for the Lifeline is current and accurate annually. If the phone number has changed, the constituent institutions shall use the updated phone number. Unless an updated phone number exists, the constituent institutions shall have the phrase To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741. in the following places:

a.         On any new student identification (student ID) issued. The text shall be in a conspicuous location on the student ID. The text may be printed on the ID or affixed by sticker. Nothing in this subdivision requires a school to issue a student ID.

b.         On the school website.

c.         On the home screen of any electronic device issued to students.

d.         On any school agenda or calendar, whether digital or printed.

e.         On a document during any suicide awareness activity.

f.          On a document when the student registers to attend the school.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.