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Committee restores $500,000 appropriation for 988 crisis hotline; declines per-line fee
Summary
The Appropriations Committee amended the bill addressing funding for the 988 crisis hotline to provide a one-time $500,000 appropriation from the community health care trust fund rather than establishing a 5-cent per-line charge. The committee cited an ongoing ITD study of 911/988 funding and approved the amendment on a 22-0-1 vote.
During a work session the Appropriations Committee amended the funding approach for the 988 crisis hotline program, moving away from a proposed per-line fee and instead allocating $500,000 from the community health care trust fund.
The committee's amendment returns a $500,000 appropriation to the 988 program; members said the change follows discussions and an ongoing Information Technology Department (ITD) study of appropriate funding mechanisms for 911 and 988 services. Committee members said texting and other non-voice contacts have increased workload for crisis-hotline staff, and the additional appropriation is intended to help the program cover higher staffing demands.
Context and administration When the bill came from the Senate it included language to establish a funding mechanism tied to a 5-cent per-line charge. Committee discussion determined that, because ITD is conducting a broader funding study for 911 and 988, the committee would revert to a one-time appropriation. Committee members said the $500,000 is intended to supplement existing resources so the hotline can handle increased text and multi-channel demand until the study and a longer-term funding decision are completed.
During the discussion Representative O'Brien noted the appropriation is one-time funding and said the legislature will likely revisit the issue after the ITD study is available.
Formal actions - Motion to amend (Senate Bill 2200) to appropriate $500,000 from the Community Health Care Trust Fund to the 988 crisis hotline program: moved by Representative Nelson; second by Representative Steeman; amendment adopted by roll call (vote announced as 22 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). - Motion to re-engross Senate Bill 2200 and send it forward: moved and seconded; committee vote recorded as 22 yes, 0 no, 1 absent. Representative Nelson was recorded as the member who will carry the bill to the floor.
What the record does and does not show Committee discussion records that roughly $1,800,000 was being funded in the Department of Human Services budget for the hotline and that the $500,000 addition was intended to "make them whole" (as described on the record). The precise total DHS funding figure and longer-term funding decisions will be addressed through the ITD study mentioned in the transcript; the committee did not set a permanent per-line fee.
Next steps Representative Nelson will carry the re-engrossed bill to the floor for further action.
