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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS

LIFELINE CALL CENTER FUNDING AND OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

     Introduced By: Senators Murray, DiPalma, Lawson, Tikoian, Felag, Gallo, DiMario,
Bissaillon, Lauria, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. 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. 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.

     39-21.3-2. 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 existing monthly surcharge levied on telecommunications services

to support the operation of 911 and/or first responder services, to include the 988 call center going

forward.

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

Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to oversee all the two hundred plus (200+)

contact centers and ensures they meets all requirements.

     (4) "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.

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

service address in Rhode Island.

     39-21.3-3. 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 state.

     (b) The fund shall consist of:

     (1) Revenue collected from the 988 fee established under this chapter;

     (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.

     39-21.3-4. 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

standards; and

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     (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; and

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

     39-21.3-5. Governance and independence of 988 call center operations.

     (a) The 988 call center shall be operated by a nonprofit entity approved by the Lifeline

Administrator designated by SAMHSA, by the general assembly or authorized by 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) An advisory board may be established by the operator to promote compliance with

national standards and best practices. If an advisory board is established it shall consist of interested

parties representing children and adult behavioral health providers.

     39-21.3-6. Oversight and reporting.

     (a) The 988 call center operator shall submit an annual report to the general assembly by

February 1 of each year detailing:

     (1) Revenue by category (fee, grant, appropriations, etc.);

     (2) Expenditures by category (staffing, technology, training, etc.); and

     (3) Service performance metrics (call volume, wait times, abandonments, etc.).

     (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 and president of the senate and both the

house and senate finance committee chairs.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS

LIFELINE CALL CENTER FUNDING AND OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

***

     This act would establish a restricted receipt account, known as the "988 Call Center Fund,"

to be held and administered by the state to support the 988 call center budget. The funds would

support operations and maintenance of the 988 call center, acquisition and maintenance of

technology, training for staff, and outreach efforts.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

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