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: 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 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, 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 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 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 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 ($.50) is hereby levied upon each residence and business telephone line or trunk, or path and data, telephony, internet, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) wireline, line, trunk, or path in the state including PBX trunks and centrex equivalent trunks and each line or trunk serving, and upon each user interface number or extension number or similarly identifiable line, trunk, or path to or from a digital network (such as, but not exclusive of, integrated services digital network (ISDN), Flexpath, or comparable digital private branch exchange, or connecting to or from a customer-based or dedicated telephone switch site (such as, but not exclusive of, a private branch exchange (PBX)), or connecting to or from a customer-based or dedicated central office (such as, but not exclusive of, a centrex system but exclusive of trunks and lines provided to wireless communication companies) that can access to, connect with, or interface with the Rhode Island E-911 uniform emergency telephone system (RI E-911). In each instance where a surcharge is levied pursuant to this subsection (a)(1) there shall also be a monthly first response surcharge of fifty cents ($.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 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.
