Senate committee hears plan for stable funding of New Hampshire 988 crisis services, including proposed telecom surcharge and specialty license plate

Summary

SB 255 would create a 988 Trust Fund supported by a telecommunications surcharge and an optional specialty 988 license plate to sustain New Hampshire's 988 crisis call centers and related crisis response infrastructure; sponsors and advocates said the fund would stabilize local 988 operations as federal and one-time funds expire.

Sen. Kevin Avard opened a hearing on Senate Bill 255, which would establish a 988 Trust Fund to support New Hampshire's crisis call centers and related crisis response services, create a small telecommunications surcharge to finance the fund, and authorize an optional 988 specialty license plate.

Emma Savini of New Futures and other witnesses said 988 is the keystone of the state's behavioral‑health crisis system and that prior funding has relied on time‑limited federal sources such as ARPA. They urged a durable, state‑level revenue source so Granite Staters reach a New Hampshire response (rather than the national backup) and so mobile and follow‑up crisis services remain available.

DHHS legislative liaison Jenny O'Higgins told the committee the department's crisis‑system roadmap emphasizes three pillars — someone to call (988), someone to respond (mobile crisis/EMS partnerships), and somewhere to go (stabilization beds and placements).…

Senate committee hears plan for stable funding of New Hampshire 988 crisis services, including proposed telecom surcharge and specialty license plate

Summary

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