1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Suicide Prevention by Eliminating Excessive Digits Act of 2019” or the “SPEED Act”.
Suicide Prevention by Eliminating Excessive Digits Act of 2019
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to designate a 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis.
2. Designation of 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis
Definitions— In this section—
the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; and
the term covered dialing code means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code.
Designation— As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall designate a covered dialing code that veterans may use to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, which system may be—
the Veterans Crisis Line;
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; or
another hotline.
Incorporation of study findings—
In general— In designating a covered dialing code under subsection (b), the Commission shall incorporate the findings of the study conducted under section 3(a) of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–233; 132 Stat. 2424).
Prioritizing implementation speed— Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to authorize the Commission to delay the designation of a covered dialing code under subsection (b) until after the Commission submits the report under section 3(b) of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–233; 132 Stat. 2424).