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Assembly committee advances bill to restore LGBTQ+ routing in 988 crisis line
Summary
The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee voted to refer AB 15 40 to Appropriations after proponents said the bill would restore a 'press 3' routing option to connect LGBTQ+ youth to counselors trained in their needs; opponents warned of risks from embedding identity-based pathways without federal safeguards.
Assemblymember Mark Gonzales urged the Communications and Conveyance Committee to approve AB 15 40, saying the bill would reinstate a 'press 3' routing option within the 988 suicide-crisis lifeline to connect LGBTQ+ youth with counselors trained to address their specific needs. Gonzales said the change is meant to ensure that "when someone reaches out in crisis, they can be connected" to support that understands their identity.
Bridget McCarthy, public-policy chair for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast chapter, testified in…
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