Committee hears bill to codify 9‑8‑8 transfers from 9‑1‑1 for behavioral‑health calls

Representative Bill Boyd introduced House Bill 597 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee; the bill would establish a designated behavioral‑health access point within the enhanced 9‑1‑1 system to facilitate transfers to the 9‑8‑8 mental‑health crisis line when appropriate.

Nut graf: Testimony from public‑safety and behavioral‑health officials said HB 597 largely codifies coordination already in place, clarifying that calls to 9‑1‑1 that are best handled by 9‑8‑8 may be transferred and handled by the crisis network. Advocates said the change would improve responses for people in crisis while freeing 9‑1‑1 for life‑threatening emergencies.

Tim Scott, assistant director for the statewide enhanced 9‑1‑1 system, told the committee the two systems function differently: 9‑1‑1 is triage and dispatch for immediate threats and often locates callers to dispatch emergency responders; 9‑8‑8 crisis calls commonly resolve on the phone with trained counselors and do not always require dispatch. Scott said the systems already have transfer protocols and that codifying a designated access point would reflect current operational practice.

Holly Stevens of NAMI New Hampshire and Jenny O’Higgins of DHHS described the coordination as an established partnership, and noted the national 9‑8‑8 rollout required new local protocols. NAMI said 9‑8‑8 calls often are resolved telephonically and that robust coordination improves outcomes and reduces unnecessary emergency response.

Ending: The committee took testimony and heard that the bill would formalize existing arrangements between 9‑1‑1 and 9‑8‑8 rather than create a new service; no vote was taken at the hearing.