Committee hears wide support, some funding concerns for 988 crisis‑hotline bill

Summary

Senate Bill 2200 would create a 988 crisis hotline program, a stabilization fund, and authorize a telecommunications access fee to fund the statewide 988 answer and follow‑up services; providers urged the committee to fund a scaled 24/7 operation, while telecom and broadband groups urged general‑fund or federal funding instead of a new phone fee.

Senate Bill 2200, a proposal to create a 988 crisis hotline program and stabilization fund funded in part by a per‑line access fee, drew extensive testimony from providers, advocates, telecom trade groups and state agencies in the Senate Industry and Business Committee hearing.

Senator Kathy Hogan (State Senator, District 21) introduced the bill and framed it as an unfunded federal designation that requires state implementation and stable funding. Hogan said 988 is the nationally designated three‑digit suicide prevention lifeline and that the state’s existing nonprofit provider, First Link, already answers both 988 and the 211 information and referral line. She and other witnesses described rising demand, particularly among youth, and said many parts of the crisis‑response system — phone answering, local mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization beds — must be coordinated to provide an effective response.

Jennifer Illich, Executive Director of First Link, described operational needs and financial…

Committee hears wide support, some funding concerns for 988 crisis‑hotline bill

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading