2026 -- H 8177

========

LC005379

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 CALL CENTER FUNDING

AND OPERATIONS ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Casey, Cruz, Solomon, Casimiro,
Fellela, Messier, Dawson, Ajello, and Biah

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

     The general assembly finds that:

     (1) Access to suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis intervention is essential to

protecting public health and safety;

     (2) Congress enacted the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which

authorized states to implement and fund a 988 crisis hotline;

     (3) The State of Rhode Island must create a reliable, sustainable funding source to support

its 988 call center infrastructure;

     (4) The designated 988 call center must operate independently from state agencies and

focus exclusively on the core responsibilities of answering 988 calls, texts, and chats, consistent

with federal law; and

     (5) Consolidating all applicable revenue sources into a single restricted receipt fund will

ensure fiscal integrity and long-term sustainability.

     SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 21.3

988 CALL CENTER FUNDING AND OPERATIONS ACT

     39-21.3-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "988 call center" means the designated, non-governmental entity operating the federally

approved in-state contact center for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, exclusively

responsible for answering and responding to 988 contacts originating in Rhode Island.

     (2) "988 fee" means the monthly surcharge levied on telecommunications services to

support the operation of 911 and/or first responder services and the 988 call center.

     (3) "Lifeline administrator" means the entity that contracts with the Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to oversee in excess of two hundred (200)

contact centers and ensures they meets all requirements.

     (4) “Operator” means the nonprofit entity designated to oversee the 988 call center pursuant

to § 39-21.3-4.

     (5) "Telecommunications provider" means any person or entity that provides commercial

mobile radio service, interconnected VoIP service, or wireless telecommunications service to end

users in the state.

     (6) "Subscriber" means a person or entity billed for telecommunications services with a

service address in Rhode Island.

     39-21.3-2. 988 Call center – Restricted receipt account.

     (a) There is hereby established a restricted receipt account, known as the "988 call center

fund," to be held and administered by the office of the general treasurer.

     (b) The fund shall consist of:

     (1) Revenue collected from the 988 fee established pursuant to § 39-21.1-14;

     (2) Legislative appropriations designated for 988 operations;

     (3) Federal block grant allocations or other federal funds specifically allocated for 988 or

crisis hotline services; and

     (4) Interest or investment income earned on monies deposited in the fund.

     (c) The Rhode Island division of taxation shall deposit all remittances into the 988 call

center fund.

     39-21.3-3. Authorized uses of the trust fund.

     (a) Monies in the 988 call center fund shall be used to support the 988 call center budget

to:

     (1) Operate, staff, and maintain the 988 call center;

     (2) Acquire, upgrade, and maintain technology or telecommunications infrastructure for

988 call center use;

     (3) Provide required training for call center staff in accordance with federal 988 program

LC005379 - Page 2 of 11

standards; and

     (4) Conduct public awareness and first responder outreach efforts about the availability

and use of 988.

     (b) Monies shall not be used to:

     (1) Deliver or fund behavioral health treatment, case management, or clinical services;

     (2) Expand into service areas beyond those allowed by the National Suicide Hotline

Designation Act or implementing SAMHSA guidance; or

     (3) Fund operations, staff, or administration of any state agency.

     39-21.3-4. Governance and independence of 988 call center operations.

     (a) The 988 call center shall be operated by a nonprofit entity appointed by the general

assembly and approved by the lifeline administrator designated by SAMHSA in accordance with

federal grant requirements.

     (b) The call center shall operate collaboratively with all Rhode Island executive

departments and shall not be subject to oversight, direction, or operational control by any sole state

agency.

     (c) The operator may establish an advisory board to promote compliance with national

standards and best practices. An advisory board, if established at the direction of the operator, shall

consist of professionals with expertise in children, adolescent, and adult behavioral health.

     39-21.3-5. Oversight and reporting.

     (a) The operator shall submit an annual report to the general assembly by February 1 of

each year detailing:

     (1) Revenue by category including, but not limited to, 988 fees, grants, and appropriations;

     (2) Expenditures by category including, but not limited to, staffing, training, and

technology; and

     (3) Service performance metrics including, but not limited to, call volume, wait times, and

abandonments.

     (b) The Rhode Island auditor general shall conduct an annual audit of the 988 call center

fund and provide the results to the speaker of the house; the president of the senate; the house of

representatives finance committee chair; and the senate finance committee chair.

     SECTION 3. Section 35-4-27 of the General Laws in Chapter 35-4 entitled "State Funds"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     35-4-27. Indirect cost recoveries on restricted receipt accounts.

     Indirect cost recoveries of fifteen percent (15%) of cash receipts shall be transferred from

all restricted receipt accounts, to be recorded as general revenues in the general fund. However,

LC005379 - Page 3 of 11

there shall be no transfer from cash receipts with restrictions received exclusively: (1) From

contributions from nonprofit charitable organizations; (2) From the assessment of indirect cost-

recovery rates on federal grant funds; or (3) Through transfers from state agencies to the department

of administration for the payment of debt service. These indirect cost recoveries shall be applied to

all accounts, unless prohibited by federal law or regulation, court order, or court settlement. The

following restricted receipt accounts shall not be subject to the provisions of this section:

     Executive Office of Health and Human Services

     HIV Care Grant Drug Rebates

     Health System Transformation Project

     Rhode Island Statewide Opioid Abatement Account

     HCBS Support-ARPA

     HCBS Admin Support-ARPA

     Department of Human Services

     Organ Transplant Fund

     Veterans’ home — Restricted account

     Veterans’ home — Resident benefits

     Pharmaceutical Rebates Account

     Demand Side Management Grants

     Veteran’s Cemetery Memorial Fund

     Donations — New Veterans’ Home Construction

     Commodity Supplemental Food Program-Claims

     Department of Health

     Pandemic medications and equipment account

     Miscellaneous Donations/Grants from Non-Profits

     State Loan Repayment Match

     Healthcare Information Technology

     Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals

     Eleanor Slater non-Medicaid third-party payor account

     Hospital Medicare Part D Receipts

     RICLAS Group Home Operations

     Group Home Facility Improvement Fund

     Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

     Emergency and public communication access account

     Department of Environmental Management

LC005379 - Page 4 of 11

     National heritage revolving fund

     Environmental response fund II

     Underground storage tanks registration fees

     De Coppet Estate Fund

     Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission

     Historic preservation revolving loan fund

     Historic Preservation loan fund — Interest revenue

     Department of Public Safety

     E-911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System

     Forfeited property — Retained

     988 Call Center Fund

     Forfeitures — Federal

     Forfeited property — Gambling

     Donation — Polygraph and Law Enforcement Training

     Rhode Island State Firefighter’s League Training Account

     Fire Academy Training Fees Account

     Attorney General

     Forfeiture of property

     Federal forfeitures

     Attorney General multi-state account

     Forfeited property — Gambling

     Department of Administration

     Health Insurance Market Integrity Fund

     RI Health Benefits Exchange

     Information Technology restricted receipt account

     Restore and replacement — Insurance coverage

     Convention Center Authority rental payments

     Investment Receipts — TANS

     OPEB System Restricted Receipt Account

     Grants Management Administration

     Office of Energy Resources

     OER Reconciliation Funding

     RGGI Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council Projects

     Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Operating and Maintenance Account

LC005379 - Page 5 of 11

     Clean Transportation Programs

     Department of Housing

     Housing Resources and Homelessness Restricted Receipt Account

     Housing Production Fund

     Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Fund

     Department of Revenue

     Car Rental Tax/Surcharge-Warwick Share

     DMV Modernization Project

     Jobs Tax Credit Redemption Fund

     Legislature

     Audit of federal assisted programs

     Department of Children, Youth and Families

     Children’s Trust Accounts — SSI

     Military Staff

     RI Military Family Relief Fund

     RI National Guard Counterdrug Program

     Treasury

     Admin. Expenses — State Retirement System

     Retirement — Treasury Investment Options

     Defined Contribution — Administration - RR

     Violent Crimes Compensation — Refunds

     Treasury Research Fellowship

     Business Regulation

     Banking Division Reimbursement Account

     Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner Reimbursement Account

     Securities Division Reimbursement Account

     Commercial Licensing and Racing and Athletics Division Reimbursement Account

     Insurance Division Reimbursement Account

     Historic Preservation Tax Credit Account

     Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission

     Marijuana Trust Fund

     Social Equity Assistance Fund

     Judiciary

     Arbitration Fund Restricted Receipt Account

LC005379 - Page 6 of 11

     Third-Party Grants

     RI Judiciary Technology Surcharge Account

     Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

     Statewide Student Transportation Services Account

     School for the Deaf Fee-for-Service Account

     School for the Deaf — School Breakfast and Lunch Program

     Davies Career and Technical School Local Education Aid Account

     Davies — National School Breakfast & Lunch Program

     School Construction Services

     Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner

     Tuition Savings Program Fund

     Higher Education and Industry Center

     IGT STEM Scholarships

     Department of Labor and Training

     Job Development Fund

     Contractor Training Restricted Receipt Account

     Workers’ Compensation Administrative Account

     Rhode Island Council on the Arts

     Governors’ Portrait Donation Fund

     Statewide records management system account

     SECTION 4. Section 39-21.1-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-21.1 entitled "911

Emergency Telephone Number Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-21.1-14. E-911 surcharge and first response surcharge.

     (a)(1) A monthly E-911 surcharge of fifty cents ($.50) is hereby levied upon each residence

and business telephone line or trunk, or path and data, telephony, internet, voice over internet

protocol (VoIP) wireline, line, trunk, or path in the state including PBX trunks and centrex

equivalent trunks and each line or trunk serving, and upon each user interface number or extension

number or similarly identifiable line, trunk, or path to or from a digital network (such as, but not

exclusive of, integrated services digital network (ISDN), Flexpath, or comparable digital private

branch exchange, or connecting to or from a customer-based or dedicated telephone switch site

(such as, but not exclusive of, a private branch exchange (PBX)), or connecting to or from a

customer-based or dedicated central office (such as, but not exclusive of, a centrex system but

exclusive of trunks and lines provided to wireless communication companies) that can access to,

connect with, or interface with the Rhode Island E-911 uniform emergency telephone system (RI

LC005379 - Page 7 of 11

E-911). In each instance where a surcharge is levied pursuant to this subsection (a)(1) there shall

also be a monthly first response surcharge of fifty cents ($.50) and a monthly 988 surcharge of fifty

cents ($.50) and a monthly 988 fee of ______cents ($.__). The surcharges shall be billed by each

telecommunication services provider at the inception of services and shall be payable to the

telecommunication services provider by the subscriber of the services.

     (2) A monthly E-911 surcharge of fifty cents ($.50) and a monthly 988 fee of ______cents

($.__) are is hereby levied on each wireless instrument, device, or means, including prepaid,

cellular, telephony, internet, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), satellite, computer, radio,

communication, data or data only wireless lines, or any other wireless instrument, device, or means

that has access to, connects with, or activates or interfaces or any combination thereof with the E-

911 uniform emergency telephone system. In each instance where a surcharge is levied pursuant to

this subsection (a)(2) there shall also be a monthly first response surcharge of seventy-five cents

($.75). The surcharges shall be billed by each telecommunication services provider and shall be

payable to the telecommunication services provider by the subscriber. Prepaid wireless

telecommunications services shall not be included in this act, but shall be governed by chapter 21.2

of this title. The E-911 uniform emergency telephone system shall establish, by rule or regulation,

an appropriate funding mechanism to recover from the general body of ratepayers this surcharge.

     (b) The amount of the surcharges shall not be subject to the tax imposed under chapter 18

of title 44 nor be included within the telephone common carrier’s gross earnings for the purpose of

computing the tax under chapter 13 of title 44.

     (c) Each telephone common carrier and each telecommunication services provider shall

establish a special account to which it shall deposit on a monthly basis the amounts collected as

surcharges under this section.

     (d) The money collected by each telecommunication services provider shall be transferred

within sixty (60) days after its inception of wireline, wireless, prepaid, cellular, telephony, voice

over internet protocol (VoIP), satellite, computer, internet, or communications services in this state

and every month thereafter, to the division of taxation, together with the accrued interest. The E-

911 surcharge shall be deposited in a restricted-receipt account and used solely for the operation of

the E-911 uniform emergency telephone system. The first response surcharge shall be deposited in

the general fund; provided, however, that ten percent (10%) of the money collected from the first

response surcharge shall be deposited in the information technology restricted receipt account

(ITRR account) established pursuant to § 42-11-2.5(a). The 988 surcharge shall be deposited in the

988 call center fund established pursuant to § 39-21.3-3. Any money not transferred in accordance

with this subsection shall be assessed interest at the rate set forth in § 44-1-7 from the date the

LC005379 - Page 8 of 11

money should have been transferred.

     (e) Every billed subscriber-user shall be liable for any surcharge imposed under this section

until it has been paid to the telephone common carrier or telecommunication services provider. Any

surcharge shall be added to and shall be stated separately in the billing by the telephone common

carrier or telecommunication services provider and shall be collected by the telephone common

carrier or telecommunication services provider.

     (f) Each telephone common carrier and telecommunication services provider shall annually

provide the E-911 uniform emergency telephone system division, or any other agency that may

replace it, with a list of amounts uncollected, together with the names and addresses of its

subscriber-users who can be determined by the telephone common carrier or telecommunication

services provider to have not paid the E-911 surcharge.

     (g) Included within, but not limited to, the purposes for which the money collected from

the E-911 surcharge may be used, are rent, lease, purchase, improvement, construction,

maintenance, repair, and utilities for the equipment and site or sites occupied by the E-911 uniform

emergency telephone system; salaries, benefits, and other associated personnel costs; acquisition,

upgrade, or modification of PSAP equipment to be capable of receiving E-911 information,

including necessary computer hardware, software, and database provisioning, addressing, and non-

recurring costs of establishing emergency services; network development, operation, and

maintenance; database development, operation, and maintenance; on-premise equipment

maintenance and operation; training emergency service personnel regarding use of E-911;

educating consumers regarding the operations, limitations, role, and responsible use of E-911;

reimbursement to telephone common carriers or telecommunication services providers of rates or

recurring costs associated with any services, operation, administration, or maintenance of E-911

services as approved by the division; reimbursement to telecommunication services providers or

telephone common carriers of other costs associated with providing E-911 services, including the

cost of the design, development, and implementation of equipment or software necessary to provide

E-911 service information to PSAPs, as approved by the division.

     (h) [Deleted by P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 28, § 1.]

     (i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to constitute rate regulation of wireless

communication services carriers, nor shall this section be construed to prohibit wireless

communication services carriers from charging subscribers for any wireless service or feature.

     (j) [Deleted by P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 4, § 1.]

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.

LC005379 - Page 9 of 11

========

LC005379

========

LC005379 - Page 10 of 11

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 CALL CENTER FUNDING

AND OPERATIONS ACT

***

     This act would establish a fund and the operations necessary for a 988 hotline for suicide

prevention and behavioral health crisis management. This act would also instate a monthly

surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

========

LC005379

========

LC005379 - Page 11 of 11