Committee backs bill to restore a dedicated LGBTQIA+ routing option for 988
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Summary
The advisory committee recommended support for AB 1540, which would restore a "press 3" routing option within the 988 crisis system to route LGBTQIA+ youth to specialized crisis supports; sponsors estimate implementation costs of roughly $2.5 million annually and said existing 988 surcharge reserves and administrative fee-setting could fund it.
The Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee recommended that the full Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission support AB 1540 (Gonzales), a bill intended to restore a specialized "press 3" routing option in the 988 crisis system to better serve LGBTQIA+ youth in crisis.
Kyle Johnson, legislative aide to Assemblymember Gonzales, told the committee that a prior press-3 pilot handled about 1.5 million contacts nationally from 2022 through July 2025 and at times received up to 70,000 contacts per month. He said restoring the routing option for California would require reprogramming phone trees and contracting with a specialized provider network; his office's rough estimate for ongoing operations was about $2.5 million annually plus one-time infrastructure costs.
Committee members asked detailed questions about funding mechanics and whether SAMHSA (the federal behavioral health agency) and Vibrant, which operates national 988 contracts, would approve a state-specific press-3 routing. Presenters said the 988 surcharge is set administratively by state agencies using a backwards calculation from need; they cited a current surplus in 988 accounts (discussed in the meeting at roughly $26 million) that could cover start-up and some ongoing costs, but cautioned that SAMHSA approval of the routing would be required and is not guaranteed.
Advocates who spoke during public comment urged the commission to support the bill; several organizations expressed concerns about long-term sustainability and called for legislative and administrative clarity about funding and implementation. The committee moved, seconded and recommended that the full commission support AB 1540; the motion passed after roll call.
