New Law: Important ID Card Changes for Fall '20

by Gary D Haas, Sr Business Development Exec with Lifetouch

The state of Wisconsin recently passed a law with important new ID requirements for Wisconsin schools. This law goes into effect on 7/1/2020.

Here is a link to the statute itself. High level, this is what schools are required to do:

Section 4. 118.169 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

118.169 (2) Identification cards. (a) If a school board or operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) issues identification cards to pupils, the school board or operator shall include on each identification card issued to a pupil the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or one of its affiliate crisis centers or, if the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ceases operations, another national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to individuals in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The school board or operator may also include on the identification card any of the following information:

A statement that the text-based emotional support service of the Crisis Text Line may be accessed by texting HOPELINE to 741741 or, if applicable, by specifying any successor method.
Instructions for contacting a text-based state or national organization, other than the organization described under subd. 1., that provides free support to individuals in crisis 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
The telephone number for a local suicide prevention hotline. (b) A school board or operator of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) may include the information described under par. (a) on pupil identification cards by printing the information on, or by affixing a sticker that contains the information to, the identification cards.

The school or school district is the decision-maker on what information you would like to provide on the ID card. You will also need to decide if you would like your current school picture vendor to print the information on the back of the ID (most full-service vendors should easily be able to provide this to you at no charge) or if you prefer to affix the information yourself by using a sticker.

If you would like your vendor to print this for you, you will need to provide the exact text that you want to appear. Keep these points in mind:

There is very limited space on an ID card so keep your text simple and to the point. At a minimum you need to include the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255
You may also consider including other resources such as Rape Crisis Center or Domestic Abuse helplines among others.
Most ID card printers can only print in black ink on the reverse side of ID cards, so don't add any colors to your text.

Be sure to get your proposed design to your vendor ASAP so there is time for careful proofreading of the phone numbers.

If you have further questions you can reach me at [email protected] or 920.931.4227

(Lifetouch is the leading school picture and yearbook company serving schools & families nationally for over 80 years. https://schools.lifetouch.com/)