US Codex
Bill
Notes

S. 3199 — what changed

988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026

From Reported in Senate to Engrossed in Senate. 4 sections amended and 4 removed between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025”.2026”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)
911 system service provider— The term 911 system service provider has the meaning given the term covered 911 service provider in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(2)
Appropriate committees of Congress— The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(B)
changed the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensionsof Pensions of the Senate; and
(C)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(3)
removed Committee— The term committee means the advisory committee established under section 3.
(4)
removed Community based mental health organization— The term community based mental health organization means an organization that serves individuals with mental health conditions and the families of those individuals in a community setting.
(3)
renumbered was (7) Dispatchable location— The term dispatchable location has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(4)
added Emergency communications center— The term emergency communications center means—
(A)
added a facility that is designed to receive a 911 request for emergency assistance; or
(B)
added a public safety answering point, as defined in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(6)
removed Handset manufacturer— The term handset manufacturer means a manufacturer of cellular phones.
(7)
removed Local crisis center— The term local crisis center means a call center intended to receive calls from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line.
(8)
removed Local government— The term local government means the government of any political subdivision of a State.
(9)
removed Low population State— The term low population State means a State that has no urbanized areas with a population greater than 250,000, as reported in the decennial census.
(10)
removed Mental health services organization— The term mental health services organization means an organization or association that represents providers of mental health crisis services or crisis respite services.
(11)
removed Public safety answering point— The term public safety answering point has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(12)
removed Small and rural communities— The term small and rural communities means a noncore area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area with a population of not more than 250,000, as reported in the decennial census.
(13)
removed State— The term State means any of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States.
(5)
renumbered was (16) Telecommunications service provider— The term telecommunications service provider has the meaning given the term service provider in section 52.5(e) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

Sec. 3 Notice of inquiry

(a)
changed Establishment—In general— Not later than 180 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Commission shall establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations initiate a notice of inquiry to address the challenges to transmitting geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
(b)
added Evaluation considerations— In evaluating responses to the notice of inquiry under subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission shall consider—
(b)
removed Membership—
(1)
removed Composition—
(A)
removed In general— The committee shall be composed of 15 members, to be appointed in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(B)
removed Appointments by Federal Communications Commission— Of the 15 members of the committee appointed under this paragraph, the Federal Communications Commission shall appoint—
(i)
removed 1 member from a telecommunications service provider or an organization that represents telecommunications service providers;
(ii)
removed 1 member from a handset manufacturer or an organization that represents handset manufacturers;
(iii)
removed 1 member from a public safety answering point or an organization that represents public safety answering points;
(iv)
removed 1 member from a 911 system service provider or an organization that represents 911 system service providers;
(v)
removed 2 members from a State government, with at least 1 member representing a low population State; and
(vi)
removed 2 members from a local government, with at least 1 member representing small and rural communities.
(C)
removed Appointments by the Secretary of Health and Human Services— Of the 15 members of the committee appointed under this paragraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint—
(i)
removed 1 member from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(ii)
removed 1 member from a local crisis center or an organization that represents local crisis centers;
(iii)
removed 1 member from the Veterans Crisis Line;
(iv)
removed 1 member from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
(v)
removed 1 member from a mental health services organization;
(vi)
removed 1 member from a community based mental health organization; and
(vii)
removed 1 member with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through direct video calling and video relay service.
(1)
changed Date— The appointments of legal authorities with respect to mandating the members transmission of the committee shall be made not later than 30 days after geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the date of enactment of this Act.988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(2)
added the protection of consumer privacy with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(3)
added the feasibility and technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information;
(4)
added an assessment of the potential costs, funding requirements, and options for recovery of costs for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information;
(5)
added technical challenges associated with mandating the transmission of geolocation information for users who access the 988 American Sign Language line through direct video calling and video relay service; and
(6)
added the technologies currently available to provide dispatchable location information and methods for transferring location information from 988 centers to 911 centers.
(c)
removed Period of appointment; vacancies—
(1)
removed In general— A member of the committee shall be appointed for the life of the committee.
(2)
removed Vacancies— A vacancy in the committee—
(A)
removed shall not affect the powers of the committee; and
(B)
removed shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(d)
removed Meetings—
(1)
removed Initial meeting— Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the committee have been appointed, the committee shall hold the first meeting of the committee.
(2)
removed Frequency— The committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
(3)
removed Quorum— A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(e)
removed Chairperson and Vice Chairperson— The committee shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the committee.

Sec. 4 GAO report

(a)
changed Study—In general— The committee Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on—and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, including—
(1)
policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(2)
changed technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, emergency communications centers, and local crisis centers; and
(3)
changed the potential recovery of costs or additional funding requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers.
(b)
changed Recommendations—Consultation— Based on the results of In conducting the study conducted under subsection (a), the committee shall develop recommendations on potential legislation that would address challenges relating to the inclusion Comptroller General of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.United States shall consult with—
(1)
added representatives from—
(A)
added telecommunications service providers or organizations that represent telecommunications service providers;
(B)
added handset manufacturers or organizations that represent handset manufacturers;
(C)
added emergency communications centers or organizations that represent emergency communications centers;
(D)
added 911 system service providers or organizations that represent 911 system service providers;
(E)
added State government, including those representing low population States;
(F)
added local government, including those representing small and rural communities;
(G)
added the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(H)
added local crisis centers or organizations that represent local crisis centers;
(I)
added the Veterans Crisis Line;
(J)
added the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
(K)
added mental health services organizations; and
(L)
added community mental health centers; and
(2)
added individuals with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as providing access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through direct video calling and video relay service.
(c)
removed Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the committee shall submit to appropriate committees of Congress and the Federal Communications Commission a report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the committee, together with the recommendations of the committee for such legislation and administrative actions as the committee considers appropriate.

Sec. 5 Powers of committee

removed
(a)
removed Hearings— The committee may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the committee considers advisable to carry out this Act.
(b)
removed Information from Federal agencies—
(1)
removed In general— The committee may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the committee considers necessary to carry out this Act.
(2)
removed Furnishing information— On request of the Chairperson of the committee, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the committee.
(c)
removed Postal services— The committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(d)
removed Gifts— The committee may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

Sec. 6 Committee personnel matters

removed
(a)
removed Travel expenses— A member of the committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the committee.
(b)
removed Staff—
(1)
removed In general— The Chairperson of the committee may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the committee to perform its duties, except that the employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the committee.
(2)
removed Compensation— The Chairperson of the committee may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
(c)
removed Detail of government employees— A Federal Government employee may be detailed to the committee without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(d)
removed Procurement of temporary and intermittent services— The Chairperson of the committee may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.

Sec. 7 Termination of committee

removed

removed The committee shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the committee submits the report required under section 4(c).

Sec. 8 Funding

removed

removed This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated, and no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.