SB 21-154 Summary

• Creates the 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise within the Colorado Department of Human Services as a government-owned business to fund and operate the 988 suicide prevention crisis hotline statewide 24/7.

• Imposes two charges effective January 1, 2022: a monthly 988 surcharge (up to 30 cents per connection) on telephone service users and a prepaid wireless 988 charge (up to 30 cents per transaction) on prepaid wireless purchases, with amounts established annually by the enterprise in collaboration with the Public Utilities Commission.

• Requires the enterprise to fund a nonprofit organization by July 1, 2022 to operate the 988 hotline, provide crisis intervention and care coordination services, deploy mobile response units, and coordinate with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network.

• Establishes the 988 Crisis Hotline Cash Fund to receive and manage surcharge revenues, with service suppliers retaining 1% of collected surcharges and the Public Utilities Commission retaining up to 4% for administrative costs.

• Appropriates $5,687,692 from the 988 Cash Fund to the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2021-22 and $74,566 to the Department of Revenue for implementation costs.