H.R. 2345 — what changed

National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 3 sections amended and 1 removed between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017”.2018”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

changed Congress finds the following:In this Act—

(1)

changed According to the National Center for Health Statistics, suicide rates in term Commission means the United States have surged to their highest levels in nearly 30 years.Federal Communications Commission;

(2)

changed The overall suicide rate rose by 24 percent from 1999 to 2014.the term covered dialing code means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code; and

(3)

changed The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1–800–273–TALK [8255]), created under the leadership of the Center for Mental Health Services term N11 dialing code means an abbreviated dialing code consisting of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (commonly known as “SAMHSA”), is a network 3 digits, of 161 crisis centers that provide a toll-free hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone experiencing a mental health or suicidal emergency or crisis.which—

(A)

added the first digit may be any digit other than “1” or “0”; and

(B)

added each of the last 2 digits is “1”.

(4)

removed In 1967, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended the creation of a single telephone number that could be used nationwide for reporting emergencies.

(5)

removed In 1968, the Federal Communications Commission agreed upon the number 9–1–1, one of eight N11 dialing codes, as a simple, easy-to-remember telephone number to be the dedicated number for reporting emergencies, and 9–1–1 became the national emergency number for individuals in the United States to access police, fire, and ambulance services.

(6)

removed Based on the success of the 9–1–1 nationwide emergency number, a study by the Federal Communications Commission regarding the use of a simple, easy-to-remember dedicated 3-digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system would be beneficial in the prevention of suicide nationwide.

Sec. 3 Studies and reports

(a)

added Primary study—

(1)

added In general— The Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct a study that—

(A)

added examines the feasibility of designating an N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and

(B)

added analyzes the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as of the date on which the study is initiated, including how well the lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans.

(2)

added Requirements—

(A)

added Commission— In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Commission shall—

(i)

added consider—

(I)

added each of the N11 dialing codes, including the codes that are used for other purposes; and

(II)

added other covered dialing codes;

(ii)

added consult with the North American Numbering Council; and

(iii)

added review the information provided by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, of this paragraph.

(B)

added SAMHSA study and report to assist Commission— To assist the Commission in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use shall analyze and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on—

(i)

added the potential impact of the designation of an N11 dialing code, or other covered dialing code, for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system on—

(I)

added suicide prevention;

(II)

added crisis services; and

(III)

added other suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotlines, including—

(aa)

added the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and

(bb)

added the Veterans Crisis Line; and

(ii)

added possible recommendations for improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, which may include—

(I)

added increased public education and awareness; and

(II)

added improved infrastructure and operations.

(C)

added VA study and report to assist Commission— To assist the Commission in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall study and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on how well the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line, as in effect on the date on which the study is initiated, is working to address the needs of veterans.

(b)

added Primary Commission report—

(1)

added In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) that recommends whether a particular N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code should be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system to—

(A)

added the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(B)

added the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;

(C)

added the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate;

(D)

added the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

(E)

added the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)

added Additional contents— If the report submitted by the Commission under paragraph (1) recommends that a dialing code should be used, the report shall also—

(A)

added outline the logistics of designating such a dialing code;

(B)

added estimate the costs associated with designating such a dialing code, including—

(i)

added the costs incurred by service providers, including—

(I)

added translation changes in the network; and

(II)

added cell site analysis and reprogramming by wireless carriers; and

(ii)

added the costs incurred by States and localities;

(C)

added provide recommendations for designating such a dialing code;

(D)

added provide a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended dialing code with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as in effect on the date on which the report is submitted; and

(E)

added make other recommendations, as appropriate, for improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, which may include—

(i)

added increased public education and awareness; and

(ii)

added improved infrastructure and operations.

removed In this Act—

(1)

removed the term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use;

(2)

removed the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission;

(3)

removed the term covered dialing code means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code; and

(4)

removed the term N11 dialing code means an abbreviated dialing code consisting of 3 digits, of which—

(A)

removed the first digit may be any digit other than “1” or “0”; and

(B)

removed each of the last 2 digits is “1”.

Sec. 4 FCC study and report

removed

(a)

removed Study—

(1)

removed In general— The Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, shall conduct a study that—

(A)

removed examines the feasibility of designating an N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and

(B)

removed analyzes the effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, including how well the lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans.

(2)

removed Requirements— In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Commission shall—

(A)

removed request that the Assistant Secretary study and report to the Commission on the potential impact of the designation of an N11 dialing code, or other covered dialing code, for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system on—

(i)

removed suicide prevention;

(ii)

removed crisis services;

(iii)

removed the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and

(iv)

removed the Veterans Crisis Line;

(B)

removed consider—

(i)

removed each of the N11 dialing codes, including the codes that are used for other purposes; and

(ii)

removed other covered dialing codes;

(C)

removed consult with the North American Numbering Council; and

(D)

removed consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to how well the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans.

(b)

removed Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) that—

(1)

removed recommends a particular N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system;

(2)

removed outlines the logistics of designating such a dialing code;

(3)

removed estimates the costs associated with designating such a dialing code, including—

(A)

removed the costs incurred by service providers, including—

(i)

removed translation changes in the network; and

(ii)

removed cell site analysis and reprogramming by wireless carriers; and

(B)

removed the costs incurred by States and localities;

(4)

removed provides legislative recommendations for designating such a dialing code;

(5)

removed provides a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended dialing code with the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and

(6)

removed makes other recommendations for improving the national suicide prevention lifeline system generally, which may include—

(A)

removed increased funding;

(B)

removed increased public education and awareness; and

(C)

removed improved infrastructure and operations.