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House clarifies school staff authority to ask students about suicidal thoughts; HB23 passes
Summary
House Bill 23, clarifying when school employees may ask students about suicidal ideation to refer them to services and notify parents, passed the House 67–2 after sponsors and supporters described local examples and endorsements by education and law‑enforcement groups.
Representative Eliason said HB23 clarifies that under certain circumstances school employees, agents or school resource officers may ask a student about suicidal thoughts, self‑harm or thoughts of harming others for the purpose of referral to prevention services and parental notification. He framed the bill as limited, intended to enable referral and protect students, and cited recent youth suicides in Orem and Draper as motivating context.
Eliason read an email from a 16‑year‑old student who supported the bill: “Hello. My name is Cindy. I'm 16 years old and I attend Pleasant Grove High School. Honestly, this bill, I couldn't agree with it more. Bullying is the cause for suicide… I was once bullied to the point where I wanted to end my life.” The sponsor said the bill has endorsements from the State Board of Education, the Utah Education Association, PTA, police chiefs and the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities.
Representative Wilcox and others recounted local programs with multiyear track records and urged passage. Representative Lisonbee summarized for the body that the measure is a “very common sense measure” to make clear what is allowable to get children help and to notify parents; he noted Utah ranks fifth in the nation for youth suicide and called for action. Voting was opened and House Bill 23 passed the House with 67 yes votes and 2 no votes and will be transmitted to the Senate.
