AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE 9-8-8 SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LIFELINE AND THE 2-1-1 INFOLINE PROGRAM.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is unknown based on the provided metadata which shows no final enactment date yet, only committee referral.

Funding for 9-8-8 and 2-1-1 Programs

This bill requires a twenty-five cent monthly fee on phone bills in the state to fund suicide prevention hotlines and community help services.

What This Bill Does

• Requires a charge of twenty-five cents on each month's phone bill for residents using landline or mobile service capable of accessing 9-8-8.
• Puts money from this charge into the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund.
• Uses part of the collected funds to run the state's 2-1-1 Infoline program operated by United Way of Connecticut.
• Amends general statutes to create these new funding rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• Residents who pay monthly fees for telecommunication or cellular mobile phone services in the state that can access 9-8-8.
• The United Way of Connecticut, which operates the 2-1-1 Infoline program.
• State agencies managing the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund.

Terms To Know

Surcharge

An extra fee added to a regular bill or price.

9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline

A phone number people can call for help with suicide prevention and mental health emergencies.

2-1-1 Infoline program

A service operated by United Way of Connecticut that connects callers to community resources.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill text does not state when this fee will start being charged.
• The source material does not specify how much money is expected from the surcharge each year.
• It is unclear if any exceptions exist for certain types of phone plans or users.

Official Summary Text

To require dedicated funding for the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline and the 2-1-1 Infoline program.

Current Bill Text

LCO No. 41 1 of 1

General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 213
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 41

Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH

Introduced by:
SEN. ANWAR, 3rd Dist.

AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE 9-8-8 SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LIFELINE AND THE 2-1-
1 INFOLINE PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

That the general statutes be amended to require the imposition of a 1
surcharge of twenty-five cents on the monthly fee paid by residents of 2
the state for telecommunication services and cellular mobile telephone 3
services provided in the state that are capable of accessing the 9 -8-8 4
Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline for (1) deposit into 5
the 9 -8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Fund 6
established pursuant to section 17a-674a of the general statutes, and (2) 7
administration of the 2-1-1 Infoline program in the state operated by the 8
United Way of Connecticut. 9
Statement of Purpose:
To require dedicated funding for the 9 -8-8 Suicide Prevention and
Mental Health Crisis Lifeline and the 2-1-1 Infoline program.