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Ford: Bill to provide suicide hotline on student IDs passes Senate

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 3, 2021) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) that would require the national suicide hotline and human trafficking hotline numbers to be printed on or affixed to student ID cards passed the Indiana Senate Tuesday with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 19 would require any public middle school or high school that issues student ID cards to provide the phone numbers of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Both of these organizations provide 24-hour one-on-one support.

“One in every eight children between the ages six and 12 has suicidal thoughts, and they often do not know who to turn to," Ford said. "This legislation not only provides an outlet for young Hoosiers to turn to, but reminds them that it's okay to talk about their struggles."

This legislation would only apply to schools that already require student IDs. SB 19 will now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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