H.R. 5482

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5482 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5482

To require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools 
to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-
informed care.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 18, 2025

Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools 
to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-
informed care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Prevent Youth Suicide Act''.

SEC. 2. RULES ON PROTOCOLS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AT ANY EDUCATIONAL 
AGENCY OR INSTITUTION SERVING STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 
THROUGH GRADE 12.

(a) Rule.--Not later than 210 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Education shall issue a rule requiring, as a 
condition of receipt of funds under an applicable program, that an 
educational agency or institution carry out each of the following:
(1) School-based suicide prevention protocols.--The 
development and implementation of evidence-based suicide 
prevention programs tailored to the needs of students, which 
shall include--
(A) biennial, evidence-based training for staff and 
faculty to--
(i) identify signs of distress and risk 
factors for suicide in students; and
(ii) in a case in which a student has been 
identified as exhibiting such signs or risk 
factors, guidelines for reporting such 
identification to parents and guidance 
counselors, and responding to concerns from 
such parents and counselors;
(B) establishing a referral system to connect 
students in need to appropriate mental health resources 
at school and outside of school; and
(C) conducting awareness campaigns and educational 
initiatives to reduce stigma associated with seeking 
help for mental health concerns.
(2) Suicide postvention support.--The development and 
implementation of a suicide postvention plan to address the 
aftermath of a suicide, focusing on providing support to 
affected students, staff, and the broader community, which 
shall include--
(A) guidelines for communication, memorialization, 
and resources for grief counseling; and
(B) collaboration with mental health professionals 
and community organizations to ensure comprehensive 
postvention support.
(3) Trauma-informed care.--The adoption of a trauma-
informed approach in policies and practices to create a safe 
and supportive environment for all students, which shall 
include the provision of biennial trauma-sensitive training for 
school staff to help such staff understand the potential impact 
of trauma on students and to promote appropriate responses.
(b) Additional Requirements for the Secretary of Education.--
(1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide each 
educational agency or institution subject to the rule issued 
under subsection (a) with the resources, guidelines, and 
technical assistance to comply with the requirements of such 
rule.
(2) Compliance monitoring.--The Secretary shall establish 
to ensure compliance with the rule issued under subsection (a), 
which shall include periodic assessments, evaluations, and 
audits of each such educational agency or institution.
(3) Feedback and improvement.--The Secretary shall--
(A) encourage educational agencies and institutions 
to provide feedback to the Secretary on the 
effectiveness of the requirements issued under the 
rule; and
(B) review such feedback and make necessary 
revisions to such rule.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Applicable program.--The term ``applicable program'' 
has the meaning given the term in section 400 of the General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221).
(2) Educational agency or institution.--The term 
``educational agency or institution'' means an educational 
agency or institution (as defined in section 444(a)(3) of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)) that serves 
students in any grade from grade 6 through grade 12, as 
determined under State law.
(3) Parent.--The term ``parent'' has the meaning given the 
term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Education.
(5) Suicide postvention.--The term ``suicide postvention'' 
means activities and support provided after a suicide has 
occurred, designed to help individuals cope with the loss, 
minimize potential negative impacts, and prevent contagion.
(6) Suicide prevention.--The term ``suicide prevention'' 
means comprehensive strategies and actions aimed at identifying 
individuals at risk of suicide, providing appropriate 
interventions, and fostering a supportive environment to reduce 
the likelihood of suicidal behavior.
(7) Trauma-informed care.--The term ``trauma-informed 
care'' means an approach based on an understanding of the 
vulnerabilities and triggers of individuals who have 
experienced trauma, recognize the role trauma has played in the 
lives of those individuals, recognize the presence of trauma 
symptoms and their onset, are supportive of trauma recovery, 
and avoid further traumatization.
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