Delaware General Assembly

Lieu/Substituted 6/6/23

If original bill has not been considered in committee, the substitute takes place of original bill. If original bill has been considered in committee, the substitute will be assigned to committee for consideration.

HS 2 for HB 160

5/16/23

Longhurst

Sen. Poore, Gay

Sen. Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Wilson
Reps. Baumbach, Briggs King, K. Johnson, Minor-Brown

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO 988 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES.

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 established 988 as the universal phone number for "the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline." This Act provides the framework to maximize the benefits of 988 and provide crucial support to Delawareans in need through the implementation of a practical, modern, and comprehensive, integrated crisis care system. Under this Act, the proposed integrated crisis care system consists of a statewide 24/7 behavioral health crisis communications center capable of telephonic, text, and chat to receive communications made to 988. This Act requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to ensure the availability of mobile crisis teams to respond to individuals in crisis and crisis stabilization programs operated by community-based providers to provide a place for an individual in crisis to go. To implement this framework, this Act establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Board to provide additional oversight and input on the development of the system. This Act establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Communications Center, a statewide and continuously operated communications hub for taking 988 and other communications related to behavioral health. The Center is under a partnership between the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families to provide services to Delawareans of all ages. This Act establishes dedicated funding sources for behavioral health crisis services and creates the Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention Services Fund. Specifically, this Act establishes a 60-cent per month per line fee on phone lines and a 60-cent one-time fee on prepaid services. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.

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Takes effect upon being signed into law

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