Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill proposed by Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, which would have required schools to consider how zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies keep students from seeking help when crafting suicide prevention policies.

“I agree with the goal of this bill but believe this is a matter more appropriately handled at the local level,” Brown said in returning the bill without his signature.

Berman introduced Assembly Bill 1261 as a way to address how substance use plays a role in youth suicide.

Alcohol and drug use are known risk factors for suicide — second only to depression and other mood disorders — according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Since all school districts must adopt formal suicide prevention policies, Berman thought the new requirement would be a good way to highlight for school districts the connection between substance abuse and suicidal ideation.

“School districts are free to have the disciplinary measures that they choose,” Berman continued. “But they need to be aware that because a student gets caught with drugs or alcohol, it doesn’t mean they’re necessarily a bad student. It could mean bigger issues are at hand and these bigger issues could be addressed by mental health services.”

Issues of youth mental health and youth suicide are priorities in his District 24 where, for instance, Palo Alto, experienced two suicide clusters in the past decade.

Berman proposed the legislation after the nexus between zero-tolerance policies and suicide prevention surfaced as a concern by health officials after 11 children died by suicide in 2016 in Fresno County.

The Palo Alto Unified School District offered a letter of support in April for Berman’s bill.

“Its goal of having schools consider that substance use disorders are a risk factor of suicidal behavior and that considerations should be made to help determine whether expulsion for substance use is appropriate,” wrote Terry Godfrey, president of the Palo Alto Unified School District’s board of education.

Berman said Tuesday he was surprised and disappointed at the veto, but he plans to re-introduce the legislation next year after receiving feedback from the governor’s office.

“It’s a minor setback but it’s not going to discourage us from continuing to work on the issue,” Berman said.