Appropriations panel shifts $500,000 to Community Health Trust Fund for 988 crisis services

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday amended Senate Bill 2200 to direct $500,000 to the Community Health Trust Fund to support 988 crisis stabilization and intervention services, then gave the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended.

Senator Kathy Hogan, who sponsored the bill, told the committee the legislation was introduced to establish a long-term funding stream for suicide-prevention and intervention services, modeled on the fee structure used for 911. "For the record, my name is Kathy Hogan. I represent District 21," Hogan said. She cited a fiscal-note estimate that a cellphone fee model would have generated about $4,500,000 and noted the bill as introduced was intended to stabilize the statewide crisis response system.

Committee members said the amendment — moved by Senator Davison and seconded by Senator Mather — changes the immediate funding source for a $500,000 appropriation from the general fund to the Community Health Trust Fund. That amendment passed on a roll-call. After further discussion the committee gave the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended.

Why it matters: North Dakota has among the highest suicide rates in the nation, Hogan told the committee. She said 143 North Dakotans died by suicide in 2022, and suicide ranks as the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10–34 in the state. Hogan and other supporters argued that 988 call centers and local crisis response capacity — including in rural counties — require stable public funding.

Details from testimony and committee discussion: - Provider and costs: Hogan said FirstLink, the statewide 988 responder used in the state, struggles with recruiting and retaining staff; she said about 80% of FirstLink’s costs are personnel-related and that its budget is roughly $2.8 million. "We did not expect 911 providers to have to host fundraisers, write grants, and beg for money every year simply to maintain the basic infrastructure," Hogan said. - Funding history and other bills: Hogan said the Finance Committee previously removed a proposed cellphone fee that would have produced about $4.5 million; the current amendment funds the program for now with $500,000. She and others referenced another bill under consideration that would raise tobacco taxes and direct some of that revenue to 988 services and local public-health units. - Service operations: Hogan said 988 is linked formally with 911; calls can divert to a national backup when lines are busy, and local responders must know available local resources. She described follow-up protocols for people who agree not to harm themselves and said crisis response often requires coordination with sheriff's offices, ambulances or human service centers. - Program effect: Hogan said the state reimbursement rate would increase from about 45% to 50% of operating costs if the broader funding proposal is enacted; the $500,000 appropriation was presented as a stopgap to stabilize services while longer-term revenue options are considered.

Committee actions: Senator Davison moved the amendment to change the $500,000 funding source to the Community Health Trust Fund; the amendment passed on a roll-call vote (yes: 16, no: 0). The committee then voted to give Senate Bill 2200 a do-pass recommendation as amended (committee recorded action: passed).

What the amendment does not do: The committee discussion made clear that the amendment is a funding-source change for the current appropriation and not a final decision on the cellphone fee or on other proposed revenues. Committee members and the sponsor said the tobacco tax bill — if enacted — could provide a separate funding stream, in which case both would not be spent together (the committee discussion stated one or the other revenue source would be used, not both).

Next steps: With a do-pass recommendation from the Appropriations Committee, Senate Bill 2200 as amended moves to the next step in the legislative process. Supporters said they expect to keep working on longer-term revenue options while this appropriation provides immediate help.

"The number of people seeking help continues to grow," Hogan said. "Please support this bill so that we can stabilize our crisis response system."