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S3058AMedical Services

Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals - 988 Call Center and Crisis Outreach and Stabilization Services Center Operations Act

This bill establishes and funds a 988 mental health crisis call center and outreach system run by a nonprofit.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting
Population
Affected
45
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 12, 2026Committee Senate Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This bill creates a law to establish and fund a 988 call center and crisis outreach services in Rhode Island for mental health emergencies. It authorizes the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) to designate a nonprofit organization to run the call center. The bill outlines how funds can be used, including for staffing, technology, training, and public awareness, while prohibiting funds from paying for general state agency operations. It also requires the creation of an advisory board, annual performance reports to the state government, and an annual financial audit by the Auditor General.

For younger readers

This bill creates a special 988 phone number system in Rhode Island for people who are having a mental health emergency and need someone to talk to or help them. The state will pay a nonprofit group to answer the calls and send help if needed. The money pays for workers, computers, training, and letting people know about the number. A group of experts will help guide the program, and the state will check every year to make sure the money is being spent right and that people are getting the help they need when they call.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
People experiencing mental health crisesBehavioral health professionalsNonprofit organizationsFirst respondersState health agencies
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Fully funds a vital public health service by maintaining a 988 call center and crisis outreach, strengthening the social safety net for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
  • Mandates the creation of an advisory board with behavioral health experts, helping to ensure that vulnerable populations, including children and adolescents, receive appropriate and informed care.
  • Directs crisis response toward specialized healthcare and stabilization centers rather than law enforcement, promoting systemic reform in how mental health emergencies are handled in the community.
  • Outsourcing the primary operation of the call center to a non-governmental entity could reduce direct public accountability and bypass unionized public sector job opportunities.
  • The delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, postpones critical mental health infrastructure and funding that vulnerable communities desperately need immediately.
  • Explicitly prohibits funding from being used to support the administration or staff of any state agency, potentially limiting the state's capacity to build robust internal public health infrastructure.
For Conservatives
  • Requires the call center to be operated by a non-governmental nonprofit entity rather than a state agency, favoring private sector solutions over expanding the government workforce.
  • Explicitly prohibits the allocated funds from being used to pay for the operations, staff, or administration of any state agency, preventing the growth of government bureaucracy.
  • Mandates strict financial oversight, including an annual audit by the Rhode Island Auditor General and detailed expenditure reporting, ensuring fiscal accountability for taxpayer dollars.
  • Authorizes the state to fully fund a new, comprehensive crisis outreach and stabilization system, which could lead to increased government spending and potential future tax burdens.
  • Continues to expand the state's role in behavioral healthcare and crisis management, moving away from relying on individual responsibility or private, community-based charity.
  • Creates a new advisory board and reporting mandates, which adds another layer of state oversight and administrative red tape to the healthcare system.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 74 additions

SECTION 1. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 40.1-30-1. 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 authorized under the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020), exclusively responsible for answering and responding to 988 contacts originating in Rhode Island.

(2) "988 contact" means a communication with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system within the United States operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or its successor via modalities offered, including call, chat, or text.

(3) "Crisis outreach and stabilization services center" means a crisis outreach and stabilization service center providing short term services with capacity for diagnosis, initial management, observation, crisis stabilization, and follow up referral services to all persons in response to 988 contacts, pursuant to chapter 23-17.26, and the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020).

(4) "Crisis receiving and stabilization centers" are facilities providing short term services of up to twenty-four (24) hours with capacity for diagnosis, initial management, observation, crisis stabilization and follow up referral services to all persons.

(5) "Lifeline administrator" means the entity that contracts with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to oversee the national 988 suicide and crisis lifeline system and ensure it meets all federal requirements.

(6) “Operator” means the nonprofit entity designated to oversee the 988 call center pursuant to § 40.1-30-3.

(7) "Director" means the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH).

(8) "Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ("SAMHSA")" means the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. 40.1-30-2. 988 and crisis outreach and stabilization services system established.

(a) The director is hereby authorized to designate and fully fund the 988 call center and crisis receiving and stabilization centers to provide for diagnosis, initial management, observation, crisis stabilization, and follow up referral services to all persons in response to 988 contacts.

(b) The director shall have the authority to allocate and expend any and all allocated funds including state, federal, and private and public grant funds to support the 988 call center and crisis outreach and stabilization services center system 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;

(4) Provide acute mental health crisis outreach and stabilization services in direct response to 988 and mental health crisis calls as authorized by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020); and

(5) Conduct public awareness and first responder outreach efforts about the availability and use of 988 and crisis outreach and stabilization services.

(c) Funding for the 988 call center and crisis outreach and stabilization services shall not be used to:

(1) Expand into service areas beyond those allowed by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act or implementing SAMHSA guidance; or

(2) Fund operations, staff, or administration of any state agency. 40.1-30-3. Governance and independence of 988 call center operations.

(a) The 988 call center shall be operated by a nonprofit entity appointed by the director and approved by the lifeline administrator designated by SAMHSA in accordance with federal grant requirements. In the event the nonprofit entity ceases operation, and another nonprofit entity cannot operate the call center within a reasonable time, BHDDH is authorized to operate the 988 call center until a qualified nonprofit entity is appointed by the director and approved by SAMHSA.

(b) The call center shall operate collaboratively with all Rhode Island executive departments and shall be subject to the oversight and direction of BHDDH.

(c) BHDDH shall establish an advisory board to promote compliance with national standards and best practices. The advisory board shall consist of professionals with expertise in children, adolescent, and adult behavioral health including a representative of BHDDH and the Department of Children, Youth and Families. 40.1-30-4. Oversight and reporting.

(a) BHDDH shall collect information from the operator(s) of the 988 call center and the crisis outreach and stabilization services center(s), and shall submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly by February 1 of each year detailing:

(1) Revenue by category including, but not limited to, 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 and crisis outreach and stabilization services center(s) operations and funding and provide the results to the governor, the speaker of the house; the president of the senate; the house of representatives finance committee chair; and the senate finance committee chair.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.