AK SB196

Imposes a $0.98 monthly surcharge on each wireless telephone number and wireline telephone access line to fund behavioral health crisis services, with customers limited to one surcharge per line and businesses capped at 100 lines

Creates the behavioral health crisis services fund within the general fund, funded by the surcharge collections, donations, interest, and appropriations

Requires telephone companies to collect and remit surcharges within 60 days after month's end, allowing them to retain the greater of 1% of collections or $150 as an administrative fee

Authorizes the legislature to appropriate fund balances to the Department of Health for 988 crisis line operations, crisis intervention services, workforce recruitment, specialized training for at-risk communities, and suicide prevention programs

Effective date of July 1, 2025