Pupil and student safety: identification cards.

Assembly Member Mark González's legislation to expand mental health resource information on student identification cards would require California public schools and higher education institutions to include The Trevor Project's LGBTQ+ crisis hotline contact details starting July 1, 2026. The measure adds both a telephone number and text messaging option to existing requirements that schools display the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and National Domestic Violence Hotline numbers on student IDs.

The bill's findings cite FBI data indicating schools are the third most common location for hate crimes against LGBTQ+ youth, with such incidents more than doubling at educational institutions between 2018 and 2022. Authors reference research showing 39 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, while half of those seeking mental health support were unable to access services.

Under the implementation timeline, schools may continue using existing ID card stock until supplies are depleted, after which all newly issued and replacement cards must display The Trevor Project's telephone number (1-866-488-7386) and text line information (START to 678-678). The requirements apply to public schools serving grades 7-12 and public higher education institutions, building upon current mandates to provide crisis resource information on student identification cards.