HB 564 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for mental health crisis response; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services.

PRINTER'S NO.   568

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 564
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY PROBST, KHAN, VENKAT, KAZEEM, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ,
        HOWARD, T. DAVIS, WAXMAN, CERRATO, WARREN, GIRAL, GALLAGHER,
        RIVERA, STEELE, OTTEN, D. WILLIAMS, MAYES, O'MARA, DELLOSO,
        BOYD, JAMES AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for mental health crisis
 3      response; and imposing duties on the Department of Human
 4      Services.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 9                                CHAPTER 53A
10                       MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
11   Sec.
12   53A01.   Definitions.
13   53A02.   988 public education campaign.
14   53A03.   Evaluation and report.
15   § 53A01.   Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 1      "911 system."    As defined in section 5302 (relating to
 2   definitions).
 3      "988 crisis call center."       A call center designated by the
 4   Commonwealth to respond to Statewide or regional calls from the
 5   988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
 6      "988 suicide and crisis lifeline."      The universal telephone
 7   number within the United States designated for the purpose of
 8   the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline
 9   system operating through the National Suicide Prevention
10   Lifeline program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 290bb-36c
11   (relating to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program).
12      "Campaign."     The 988 public education campaign described
13   under section 53A02 (relating to 988 public education campaign).
14      "Department."    The Department of Human Services of the
15   Commonwealth.
16      "Emergency responder."     Any of the following:
17            (1)   A current or former certified emergency medical
18      services provider or current or former member of an emergency
19      medical services agency, fire company or rescue company.
20            (2)   A peace officer.
21            (3)   A 911 dispatcher.
22            (4)   A coroner or medical examiner who responds in an
23      official capacity to an emergency.
24            (5)   A corrections officer.
25   § 53A02.    988 public education campaign.
26      (a)     Implementation.--No later than 180 days after the
27   effective date of this subsection, the department shall
28   implement a campaign to increase public understanding and
29   engagement with the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline in this
30   Commonwealth to:

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 1            (1)   Promote awareness of 988 services and other local
 2      helplines and resources to support individuals during a
 3      mental health crisis.
 4            (2)   Encourage the appropriate use of the 988 suicide and
 5      crisis lifeline as an alternative to the 911 system.
 6            (3)   Provide information about suicide prevention
 7      measures and the warning signs of suicide.
 8      (b)   Consultation.--To administer the campaign and ensure
 9   that the messages of the campaign are effectively tailored, the
10   department shall consult with the following:
11            (1)   The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
12            (2)   988 crisis call centers in this Commonwealth.
13            (3)   Advocacy groups focused on suicide prevention,
14      including organizations that address the unique challenges of
15      suicide prevention in both rural and urban environments,
16      provide services and support to veterans and emergency
17      responders and provide services and support to non-English
18      speakers.
19            (4)   Crisis counselors and other mental health
20      professionals specializing in suicide prevention.
21            (5)   Individuals with lived experiences of mental health
22      or substance use crisis.
23      (c)   Materials and resources.--
24            (1)   To administer the campaign, the department:
25                  (i)   Shall utilize a variety of materials and
26            resources, including print media, social media graphics,
27            posters and displays, which shall be:
28                        (A)   Posted on the publicly accessible Internet
29                  website of the department.
30                        (B)   Designed to be mobile-friendly.

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 1                         (C)   Available in multiple languages, as deemed
 2                  necessary by the department.
 3                         (D)   Designed to ensure effective communication
 4                  with the diverse populations and cultures across this
 5                  Commonwealth.
 6                  (ii)    May utilize existing materials and resources,
 7            including 988-related materials and resources developed
 8            by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health
 9            Services Administration.
10            (2)   All materials and resources that are produced by the
11      department for the campaign must comply with the act of
12      December 20, 2015 (P.L.497, No.90), known as the Taxpayer-
13      Funded Advertising Transparency Act.
14   § 53A03.    Evaluation and report.
15      (a)     Initial report.--Within 180 days of the effective date
16   of this subsection, the department shall submit a report to the
17   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health and Human
18   Services Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
19   minority chairperson of the Human Services Committee of the
20   House of Representatives. The department shall ensure that the
21   report, at a minimum, includes all of the following:
22            (1)   A comprehensive review of the department's efforts
23      to raise awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline,
24      detailing activities, key metrics utilized and budget
25      allocations and expenditures.
26            (2)   A performance summary, including call volume data
27      and the usage of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline chat and
28      text functions, key findings, recommendations and any
29      preliminary or final reports generated from efforts to raise
30      awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

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 1            (3)   Information on 988 suicide and crisis lifeline
 2      operations, including a breakdown of calls received, in-State
 3      answer rates, services provided to callers and the percentage
 4      of calls requiring crisis intervention.
 5            (4)   Insights or recommendations from the consultations
 6      specified under section 53A02(b) (relating to 988 public
 7      education campaign).
 8            (5)   A summary of ongoing or planned initiatives to
 9      further promote awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis
10      lifeline.
11      (b)   Updated report.--Within one year of the submission of
12   the report under subsection (a), the department shall submit an
13   updated report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of
14   the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the
15   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human Services
16   Committee of the House of Representatives. The department shall
17   ensure that the updated report includes all of the following:
18            (1)   Updated statistics on 988 suicide and crisis
19      lifeline operations.
20            (2)   Information on new campaigns or initiatives to raise
21      awareness of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, including
22      metrics, target audiences and performance evaluations.
23            (3)   The impact of the new campaigns or initiatives under
24      paragraph (2) on the utilization of the 988 suicide and
25      crisis lifeline, including the in-State answer rate, call
26      volume and the number of Pennsylvanians receiving services or
27      referrals.
28      Section 2.    This act shall take effect immediately.




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