HR 2345 — National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018

[Congressional[115th BillsCongress 115thPublic Congress]Law 233] [From the U.S.

Government Publishing Office] [H.R.[[Page 132 STAT.

23452424]] ReceivedPublic inLaw Senate115-233 (RDS)]115th <DOC>Congress 115thAn CONGRESSAct 2dTo Sessionrequire H.the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.

R.<<NOTE:

2345Aug. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 24, 2018 Received _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.

Be14, it2018 enacted- by[H.R. the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.

2345]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:

National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018.>> SECTION 1.

(a) Primary Study.-- (1) In<<NOTE: general.--The Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct a study that-- (A) examines the feasibility of designating an N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system;

andCoordination.>> (B)In analyzesgeneral.--The theCommission, effectivenessin ofcoordination with the NationalAssistant SuicideSecretary Preventionfor LifelineMental asHealth ofand theSubstance dateUse onand which the studySecretary isof initiated,Veterans includingAffairs, howshall wellconduct thea lifelinestudy isthat-- working(A) to<<NOTE: address the needs of veterans.

Examination.>> examines the feasibility of designating an N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system;

and (B) <<NOTE:

Analysis.>> analyzes the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as of the date on which the study is initiated, including how well the lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans.

(ii)[[Page consult132 withSTAT. the North American Numbering Council;

and2425]] (iii)(ii) review<<NOTE: the information provided by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, of this paragraph.

(B)Consultation.>> SAMHSAconsult studywith and report to assist commission.-- To assist the CommissionNorth inAmerican conductingNumbering theCouncil; study under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use shall analyze and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on-- (i) the potential impact of the designation of an N11 dialing code, or other covered dialing code, for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system on-- (I) suicide prevention;

and (iii) <<NOTE:

Review.>> review the information provided by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, of this paragraph.

(B) SAMHSA study and report to assist commission.-- To assist <<NOTE:

Analysis.>> the Commission in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use shall analyze and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on-- (i) the potential impact of the designation of an N11 dialing code, or other covered dialing code, for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system on-- (I) suicide prevention;

and (ii) possible<<NOTE: recommendations for improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, which may include-- (I) increased public education and awareness;

Recommenda- tions.>> possible recommendations for improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, which may include-- (I) increased public education and awareness;

(b) Primary<<NOTE: Commission Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) that recommends whether a particular N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code should be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system to-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

Recommenda- tions.

Coordination.>> Primary Commission Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) that recommends whether a particular N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code should be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system to-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(2)[[Page Additional132 contents.--IfSTAT. the report submitted by the Commission under paragraph (1) recommends that a dialing code should be used, the report shall also-- (A) outline the logistics of designating such a dialing code;

(B)2426]] estimate(2) Additional contents.--If the costsreport associatedsubmitted withby designatingthe suchCommission under paragraph (1) recommends that a dialing code,code including--should (i)be used, the costsreport incurredshall byalso-- service(A) providers,outline including--the (I)logistics translationof changesdesignating insuch thea network;dialing code;

(B) <<NOTE:

Cost estimate.>> estimate the costs associated with designating such a dialing code, including-- (i) the costs incurred by service providers, including-- (I) translation changes in the network;

(D) provide<<NOTE: a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended dialing code with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as in effect on the date on which the report is submitted;

Analysis.>> provide a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended dialing code with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as in effect on the date on which the report is submitted;

PassedApproved theAugust House14, of Representatives July 23, 2018.

Attest:LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R.

KAREN2345: L.

HAAS,--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clerk.HOUSE REPORTS:

No.

115-836 (Comm.

on Energy and Commerce).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.

164 (2018):