Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act
Bill: H.R.9036 | Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. (D-VA)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish a program to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) for facilitating peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for middle and high school students.

To establish a grant program to facilitate peer-to-peer suicide 
prevention programs for middle school and high school students, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PEER-TO-PEER SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall establish a 
program (in this section, referred to as the ``Program'') to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for the purpose of 
facilitating peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for middle school 
and high school students.
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the 
Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
    (c) Use of Amounts.--An eligible entity may only use grant amounts 
provided under the Program to--
            (1) assist an existing peer-to-peer suicide prevention 
        program; or
            (2) establish a new peer-to-peer suicide prevention 
        program.
    (d) Relationship to Other Federal Programs.--An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under the Program may combine such grant with 
other Federal funds awarded to support the activities carried out with 
the grant.
    (e) Awarding of Grants.--
            (1) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to the following:
                    (A) Eligible entities not previously awarded a 
                grant under the Program.
                    (B) Eligible entities proposing to use grant 
                amounts to establish a new peer-to-peer suicide 
                prevention program.
                    (C) Eligible entities that demonstrate the ability 
                to provide peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming 
                that is evidence-informed.
                    (D) Eligible entities that demonstrate the ability 
                to provide peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming 
                that is culturally and linguistically competent.
                    (E) Peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs 
                focused primarily on student, rather than teacher, 
                training.
            (2) Grant amounts.--A grant awarded to an eligible entity 
        under the Program may not exceed $5,000.
    (f) Coordination With SAMHSA.--The Secretary shall consult with the 
Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration for purposes of developing the Program and selecting 
eligible entities to receive grants under Program.
    (g) Evaluation Process.--The Secretary shall develop and implement 
a process to evaluate the performance of eligible entities that receive 
grants under the Program. The Secretary shall ensure that the 
evaluation process incorporates input from students.
    (h) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Education and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the 
Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration) shall carry out a program to provide technical 
assistance to eligible entities applying for and receiving grants under 
this section, which shall include the development and dissemination of 
best practices for peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 each fiscal year.
    (j) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
        any of the following that serve at least one school that 
        provides education at the middle school or high school level:
                    (A) A local educational agency (including a charter 
                school that is a local educational agency).
                    (B) An Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 5304)) or a Tribal educational agency.
                    (C) The Bureau of Indian Education.
            (2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``high school'' and ``local 
        educational agency'' have the meanings given the terms in 
        section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) Peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.--The term 
        ``peer-to-peer suicide prevention program'' means a program 
        that--
                    (A) provides students and adult advisors the 
                knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and 
                appropriately respond to the signs of suicide and 
                depression;
                    (B) includes an in-person training component, when 
                practicable; and
                    (C) is student-led.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
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