Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act

Bill: 117-hr-9036
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2022-09-29
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2022-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-09-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act</strong></p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9036 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2022 Mr. Beyer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish a grant program to facilitate peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for middle school and high school students, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act . 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.