AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- 988 CALL CENTER AND BH LINK OPERATIONS ACT (Establishes the operations necessary for a 988 hotline for suicide prevention/behavioral health crisis management. Establishes the operations necessary for acute mental health crisis outreach/stabilization services in direct response to the 988 hotline.)

S3058

2026 -- S 3058
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND
HOSPITALS -- 988 CALL CENTER AND BH LINK OPERATIONS ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Murray, Lawson, Ciccone, Tikoian, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
March 12, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Legislative findings.
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The general assembly finds that:
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(1) Access to suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis intervention is essential to
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protecting public health and safety;
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(2) Congress enacted the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No.
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116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020) which authorized states to implement and fund a 988 crisis hotline;
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(3) The State of Rhode Island must create a reliable, sustainable funding source to support
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its 988 call center infrastructure;
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(4) The state launched BH Link, a 24/7 triage facility serving individuals in crisis due to
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mental health, substance use conditions and co-occurring disorders in 2018 and, since 2022, has
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been serving as a crisis outreach and stabilization service center in response to 988 calls; and
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(5) The designated 988 call center must operate independently from state agencies and
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focus exclusively on the core responsibilities of answering 988 calls, texts, and chats, consistent
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with federal law.
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SECTION 2. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE,
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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto
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the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 30

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988 CALL CENTER AND BH LINK OPERATIONS ACT
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40.1-30-1. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter:
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(1) "988 call center" means the designated, non-governmental entity operating the federally
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approved in-state contact center for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline authorized under the
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National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020),
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exclusively responsible for answering and responding to 988 contacts originating in Rhode Island.
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(2) "988 contact" means a communication with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system
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within the United States operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or its successor
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via modalities offered, including call, chat, or text.
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(3) "BH Link" means a crisis outreach and stabilization service center providing short term
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services with capacity for diagnosis, initial management, observation, crisis stabilization, and
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follow up referral services to all persons in response to 988 contacts, pursuant to chapter 23-17.26,
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and the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832
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(2020).
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(4) "Crisis receiving and stabilization centers" are facilities, including BH Link, providing
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short term services of up to twenty-four (24) hours with capacity for diagnosis, initial management,
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observation, crisis stabilization and follow up referral services to all persons.
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(5) "Lifeline administrator" means the entity that contracts with the Substance Abuse and
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Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to oversee in excess of two hundred (200)
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contact centers and ensures they meets all requirements.
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(6) “Operator” means the nonprofit entity designated to oversee the 988 call center pursuant
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to § 40.1-30-3.
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(7) "State or related public health authority" means the department of behavioral
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healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.
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(8) "Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ("SAMHSA")" means
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the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health
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efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
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40.1-30-2. 988 and BH Link crisis services systems established.
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(a) The director is hereby authorized to designate and fully fund the 988 call center, BH
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Link, and other similar crisis receiving and stabilization centers to provide for diagnosis, initial
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management, observation, crisis stabilization, and follow up referral services to all persons in
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response to 988 contacts.
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(b) Appropriate state and federal funds, as well as private and public grant funds shall be

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used to support the 988 call center and BH Link budgets to:
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(1) Operate, staff, and maintain the 988 call center;
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(2) Acquire, upgrade, and maintain technology or telecommunications infrastructure for
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988 call center use;
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(3) Provide required training for call center staff in accordance with federal 988 program
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standards;
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(4) Provide acute mental health crisis outreach and stabilization services through BH Link
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in direct response to 988 and mental health crisis calls as authorized by the National Suicide Hotline
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Designation Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 (2020); and
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(5) Conduct public awareness and first responder outreach efforts about the availability
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and use of 988 and BH Link.
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(c) Funding for the 988 call center and BH Link shall not be used to:
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(1) Expand into service areas beyond those allowed by the National Suicide Hotline
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Designation Act or implementing SAMHSA guidance; or
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(2) Fund operations, staff, or administration of any state agency.
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40.1-30-3. Governance and independence of 988 call center operations.
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(a) The 988 call center shall be operated by a nonprofit entity appointed by the general
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assembly and approved by the lifeline administrator designated by SAMHSA in accordance with
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federal grant requirements.
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(b) The call center shall operate collaboratively with all Rhode Island executive
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departments and shall not be subject to oversight, direction, or operational control by any sole state
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agency.
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(c) The operator may establish an advisory board to promote compliance with national
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standards and best practices. An advisory board, if established at the direction of the operator, shall
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consist of professionals with expertise in children, adolescent, and adult behavioral health.
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40.1-30-4. Oversight and reporting.
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(a) The operator shall submit an annual report to the general assembly by February 1 of
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each year detailing:
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(1) Revenue by category including, but not limited to, grants, and appropriations;
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(2) Expenditures by category including, but not limited to, staffing, training, and
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technology; and
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(3) Service performance metrics including, but not limited to, call volume, wait times, and
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abandonments.
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(b) The Rhode Island auditor general shall conduct an annual audit of the 988 call center

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and BH Link operations and funding and provide the results to the speaker of the house; the
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president of the senate; the house of representatives finance committee chair; and the senate finance
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committee chair.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND
HOSPITALS -- 988 CALL CENTER AND BH LINK OPERATIONS ACT
***
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This act would establish the operations necessary for a 988 hotline for suicide prevention
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and behavioral health crisis management. This act would also establish the operations necessary
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for acute mental health crisis outreach and stabilization services in direct response to the 988
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hotline.
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.
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