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Senate committee hears bill to create Texas 988 trust fund for crisis lifeline
Summary
Lawmakers heard testimony for House Bill 53 42 to create a Texas 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund to pool donations, grants and other revenue and direct funding and study long‑term financing for the 988 system; supporters stressed high call volume, gaps in in‑state answering, and the need for durable funding.
House Bill 53 42 would create the Texas 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund to collect gifts, grants, donations and federal funds and require Health and Human Services (HHSC) to report annually on 988 usage and study long‑term funding options. The bill’s sponsor said Texas has a high 988 call rate and state centers lack dedicated state funding.
The bill matters because 988 call centers statewide answered more than 220,000 contacts in 2024 and the state’s in‑state answer rate fell short of the national target, creating a risk that Texas callers are routed out of state. Supporters told the committee federal grants alone may not…
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