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AL SB328

Bill

Status

Introduced

5/16/2023

Primary Sponsor

Garlan Gudger

Click for details

Origin

Senate

Regular Session 2023

AI Summary

SB328 - 988 Crisis System of Care Act

  • Creates the 988 Crisis System of Care Act requiring the Department of Mental Health to develop, coordinate, and administer Alabama's crisis response system including 988 call centers, mobile crisis services, and crisis intervention centers.

  • Establishes the Alabama 988 Crisis Care Fund within the State Treasury to be funded by a statewide surcharge of $0.98 per month on voice communications and cellular phone connections beginning October 1, 2024.

  • Creates the 988 Commission with 17 members including state officials, legislators, mental health advocates, and emergency services representatives to provide oversight of the fund and establish financial hardship exemptions to surcharges.

  • Imposes a monthly $0.98 surcharge on prepaid wireless transactions and requires collection through existing 911 charge mechanisms, with administrative fees of up to 1 percent retained by the Alabama 911 Board and Department of Revenue.

  • Grants immunity to certified crisis service providers and their employees equivalent to state employee protections, and becomes effective October 1, 2023, except surcharge provisions effective October 1, 2024.

Legislative Description

Relating to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; to require the Department of Mental Health to develop, administer, and adopt rules relating to Alabama's Crisis System of Care; to create the Alabama 988 Crisis Care Fund; to provide for the collection and use of a statewide surcharge on certain communication service connections; to create the 988 Commission to provide oversight to the fund; and to protect certain communication service providers from certain liability.

Last Action

Indefinitely Postpone

5/31/2023

Committee Referrals

Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development5/16/2023

Full Bill Text

No bill text available