MN SF3538

Appropriates $1,386,534 from the general fund in fiscal year 2017 to the commissioner of human services for a grant to a nonprofit organization providing a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-per-year call center for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services.

Requires the program to operate statewide with a voice response line that triages calls and provides immediate access to suicide prevention and mental health crisis counseling by telephone.

Program shall connect individuals with trained mental health crisis counselors and provide access to local resources, including referrals to community mental health options, emergency departments, and mobile crisis teams when appropriate.

Mandates the program be coordinated with an existing text message suicide prevention program to maximize service availability and access across the state.

Designates the appropriation as ongoing and adds it to the base budget.