HB389 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

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.

Summary

HB389 would create Alabama's 988 Crisis System of Care with a dedicated fund, a statewide surcharge, and new oversight to support crisis services and protect providers.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama 988 Crisis Care Fund and the 988 Commission to oversee funding and operations of the Crisis System of Care. It imposes a statewide surcharge on CMRS and voice service connections that can access 988 (starting at $0.98, up to $3), collected by the Department of Revenue and deposited into the fund; Lifeline recipients are exempt and prepaid wireless charges have separate rules. It requires the Department of Mental Health to develop, coordinate, certify, and administer the Crisis System of Care (including 988 crisis call centers, mobile crisis services, and the Lifeline), adopt rules, and report on activities and fund usage. It also provides liability protections for providers and establishes a Study Commission to oversee the act, with specific implementation timelines.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents and subscribers who would pay the statewide 988 surcharge through their CMRS or voice service bills (Lifeline recipients are exempt from the surcharge).
• CMRS and voice service providers, including prepaid wireless providers, who collect, remit, and administer the 988 surcharge and participate in funding and delivering crisis services; they also receive liability protections related to 988 services.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Alabama 988 Crisis Care Fund and the 988 Commission to oversee funding, with quarterly and annual reporting on program data and expenditures.
• Imposition and administration of the statewide 988 surcharge on CMRS and voice connections, including a baseline rate of $0.98 (adjustable up to $3), collection by the Department of Revenue, transfer to the Fund, and rules for prepaid wireless charges and Lifeline exemptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.