[115th Congress Public Law 233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 132 STAT. 2424]]
Public Law 115-233
115th Congress
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. <<NOTE: Aug. 14, 2018 - [H.R. 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Suicide Hotline Improvement
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications
Commission;
(2) the term ``covered dialing code'' means a simple, easy-
to-remember, 3-digit dialing code; and
(3) the term ``N11 dialing code'' means an abbreviated
dialing code consisting of 3 digits, of which--
(A) the first digit may be any digit other than
``1'' or ``0''; and
(B) each of the last 2 digits is ``1''.
SEC. 3. STUDIES AND REPORTS.
(a) Primary Study.--
(1) <<NOTE: Coordination.>> In 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) <<NOTE: 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.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Commission.--In conducting the study under
paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
(i) consider--
(I) each of the N11 dialing codes,
including the codes that are used for
other purposes; and
(II) other covered dialing codes;
[[Page 132 STAT. 2425]]
(ii) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> consult with the
North American Numbering Council; 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;
(II) crisis services; and
(III) other suicide prevention and
mental health crisis hotlines,
including--
(aa) the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline; and
(bb) the Veterans Crisis
Line; and
(ii) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> possible
recommendations for improving the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline generally, which may include--
(I) increased public education and
awareness; and
(II) improved infrastructure and
operations.
(C) VA study and report to assist commission.--To
assist the Commission in conducting the study under
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
study and, not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on how
well the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the
Veterans Crisis Line, as in effect on the date on which
the study is initiated, is working to address the needs
of veterans.
(b) <<NOTE: 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;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate;
(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives; and
(E) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
[[Page 132 STAT. 2426]]
(2) Additional contents.--If 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) <<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; and
(II) cell site analysis and
reprogramming by wireless carriers; and
(ii) the costs incurred by States and
localities;
(C) provide recommendations for designating such a
dialing code;
(D) <<NOTE: 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; and
(E) make other recommendations, as appropriate, for
improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
generally, which may include--
(i) increased public education and awareness;
and
(ii) improved infrastructure and operations.
SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act. This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise
authorized.
Approved August 14, 2018.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2345:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-836 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
July 23, considered and passed House.
Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate.
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