CA AB988

Establishes the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, requiring the Office of Emergency Services to verify 988 call transfer technology availability by July 16, 2022, appoint a 988 system director within 90 days, and verify interoperability between 911 and 988 by July 1, 2024.

Requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to create a 5-year implementation plan for 988 by December 31, 2023, including recommendations on infrastructure, staffing, training, mobile crisis teams, and annual reporting to the Legislature through December 31, 2029.

Mandates health care service plans and disability insurers cover medically necessary behavioral health crisis services provided by 988 centers and mobile crisis teams at in-network cost-sharing rates, regardless of in-network or out-of-network status.

Creates a separate 988 surcharge beginning January 1, 2023, set at $0.08 per access line per month for 2023-2024, and up to $0.30 per month for 2025 and beyond, deposited into the new 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund.

Appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the 988 Fund for the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to implement the surcharge system, and takes effect immediately as an urgency statute.