West Central Reporter

Legislation sponsored by State Representative Norine Hammond has been signed into law, aiming to improve access to mental health crisis resources in Illinois schools. House Bill 3000, which received bipartisan support in both legislative chambers, requires school districts serving students in grades 6-12 to include contact information for key mental health helplines on all employee ID badges. The required resources are the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline.

This new measure expands on a 2021 law that mandated suicide prevention resources be included in student planners and IDs. Hammond’s bill extends these efforts by ensuring staff members also have immediate access to these contacts, providing support for themselves as well as students experiencing a crisis.

“My legislation is an important step to increase awareness about the mental health resources available to students and school staff,” Rep. Hammond said. “Having this information on staff IDs makes it readily available in a time of crisis, for both teachers and students in need of immediate assistance.”

Hammond was elected as a Republican representative to the Illinois State House in 2023 for the state's 94th House District, succeeding Randy Frese.