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

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Funding for Mental Health Support Services

This act requires a surcharge on phone bills to fund mental health crisis services and information lines.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a 25-cent charge to monthly phone bills in the state.
• Uses this money to support the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.
• Also uses some of the funds for the 2-1-1 Infoline program run by United Way of Connecticut.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who pay phone bills in the state.
• Organizations that provide mental health support services.

Terms To Know

Surcharge

An extra fee added to a bill.

Infoline program

A service where people can call for information and help on various topics.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact amount of money raised is not specified.
• It does not say how the funds will be managed or spent in detail.

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.