PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 3560, 3706
PRINTER'S NO. 3757
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2533
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY PROBST, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
BOROWSKI, HADDOCK, MADDEN, GALLAGHER, DALEY, WEBSTER,
FREEMAN, KENYATTA, ROZZI, GIRAL, McANDREW, STEELE, GREEN AND
WARREN, AUGUST 12, 2024
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OCTOBER 9, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for mental health crisis
response and for evaluation and report; and imposing duties
on the Department of Human Services.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 53A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
Sec.
53A01. Definitions.
53A02. 988 public education campaign.
53A03. Evaluation and report.
ยง 53A01. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"911 system." As defined in section 5302 (relating to
definitions).
"988 crisis call center." A call center designated by the
Commonwealth to respond to Statewide or regional calls from the
988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
"988 suicide and crisis lifeline." The universal telephone
number within the United States designated for the purpose of
the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline
system operating through the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. ยง 290bb-36c
(relating to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program).
"Campaign." The 988 public education campaign described
under section 53A02 (relating to 988 public education campaign).
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"EMERGENCY RESPONDER." ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) A CURRENT OR FORMER CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES PROVIDER OR CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER OF AN EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCY, FIRE COMPANY OR RESCUE COMPANY.
(2) A PEACE OFFICER.
(3) A 911 DISPATCHER.
(4) A CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER WHO RESPONDS IN AN
OFFICIAL CAPACITY TO AN EMERGENCY.
(5) A CORRECTIONS OFFICER.
ยง 53A02. 988 public education campaign.
(a) Implementation.--No later than 180 days after the
effective date of this subsection, the department shall
implement a campaign to increase public understanding and
engagement with the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline in this
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Commonwealth to:
(1) Promote awareness of 988 services and other local
helplines and resources to support individuals during a
mental health crisis.
(2) Encourage the appropriate use of the 988 suicide and
crisis lifeline as an alternative to the 911 system.
(3) Provide information about suicide prevention
measures and the warning signs of suicide.
(b) Consultation.--To administer the campaign and ensure
that the messages of the campaign are effectively tailored, the
department shall consult with the following:
(1) The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
(2) 988 crisis call centers in this Commonwealth.
(3) Advocacy groups focused on suicide prevention,
including organizations that address the unique challenges of
suicide prevention in both rural and urban environments ,
PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO VETERANS AND EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS and groups that provide services and support to
non-English speakers .
(4) Crisis counselors and other mental health
professionals specializing in suicide prevention.
(5) Individuals with lived experiences of mental health
or substance use crisis.
(c) Materials and resources.--
(1) To administer the campaign, the department:
(i) Shall utilize a variety of materials and
resources, including print media, social media graphics,
posters and displays, which shall be:
(A) Posted on the publicly accessible Internet
website of the department.
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(B) Designed to be mobile-friendly.
(C) Available in multiple languages, as deemed
necessary by the department.
(D) Designed to ensure effective communication
with the diverse populations and cultures across this
Commonwealth.
(ii) May utilize existing materials and resources,
including 988-related materials and resources developed
by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration.
(2) All materials and resources that are produced by the
department for the campaign must comply with the act of
December 20, 2015 (P.L.497, No.90), known as the Taxpayer-
Funded Advertising Transparency Act.
ยง 53A03. Evaluation and report.
(a) Initial report.--Within 180 days of the effective date
of this subsection, the department shall submit a report to the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human
Services Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Human Services Committee of the
House of Representatives. The department shall ensure that the
report, at a minimum, includes all of the following:
(1) A comprehensive review of the department's efforts
to raise awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline,
detailing activities, key metrics utilized and budget
allocations and expenditures.
(2) A performance summary, including call volume data
and the usage of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline chat and
text functions, key findings, recommendations and any
preliminary or final reports generated from efforts to raise
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awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
(3) Information on 988 suicide and crisis lifeline
operations, including a breakdown of calls received, in-State
answer rates, services provided to callers and the percentage
of calls requiring crisis intervention.
(4) Insights or recommendations from the consultations
specified under section 53A02(b) (relating to 988 public
education campaign).
(5) A summary of ongoing or planned initiatives to
further promote awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis
lifeline.
(b) Updated report.--Within one year of the submission of
the report under subsection (a), the department shall submit an
updated report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human Services
Committee of the House of Representatives. The department shall
ensure that the updated report includes all of the following:
(1) Updated statistics on 988 suicide and crisis
lifeline operations.
(2) Information on new campaigns or initiatives to raise
awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, including
metrics, target audiences and performance evaluations.
(3) The impact of the new campaigns or initiatives under
paragraph (2) on the utilization of the 988 suicide and
crisis lifeline, including the in-State answer rate, call
volume and the number of Pennsylvanians receiving services or
referrals.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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