AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO 988 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES.
- Introduced May 16, 2023
- In committee May 16, 2023
- Withdrawn
- Passed the Senate
- To the governor
- Became law
What it does
The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 established 988 as the universal phone number for "the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline." This Act provides the framework to maximize the benefits of 988 and provide crucial support to Delawareans in need through the implementation of a practical, modern, and…
Read the full title (311 words)
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 established 988 as the universal phone number for "the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline." This Act provides the framework to maximize the benefits of 988 and provide crucial support to Delawareans in need through the implementation of a practical, modern, and comprehensive, integrated crisis care system. Under this Act, the proposed integrated crisis care system consists of a statewide 24/7 behavioral health crisis communications center capable of telephonic, text, and chat to receive communications made to 988. This Act requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to ensure the availability of mobile crisis teams to respond to individuals in crisis and crisis stabilization programs operated by community-based providers to provide a place for an individual in crisis to go. To implement this framework, this Act establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Board to provide additional oversight and input on the development of the system. This Act establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Communications Center, a statewide and continuously operated communications hub for taking 988 and other communications related to behavioral health. The Center is under a partnership between the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families to provide services to Delawareans of all ages. This Act establishes dedicated funding sources for behavioral health crisis services and creates the Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention Services Fund. Specifically, this Act establishes a 60-cent per month per line fee on phone lines and a 60-cent one-time fee on prepaid services. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11 of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose or levy a tax or license fee.
Every action
9 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.
- CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House · House Health & Human Development
- HouseSubstituted in House by HS 1 for HB 160
- HouseHS 1 for HB 160 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 3 Favorable, 9 On Its Merits
- HouseSubstituted in House by HS 2 for HB 160
- HouseHS 2 for HB 160 - Passed By House. Votes: 28 YES 11 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT
- SenateHS 2 for HB 160 - Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- SenateHS 2 for HB 160 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
- SenateHS 2 for HB 160 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 1 NO 2 ABSENT
- HS 2 for HB 160 - Signed by Governor
Roll calls
No recorded votes on this bill yet.
Sponsors
The member who introduced it, joined by 10 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 4 Republicans.
- VL Valerie LonghurstD Primary sponsor · District 15
- NP Nicole PooreD Joint sponsor · District 12
- KE Kyle Evans GayD Joint sponsor · District 5
From Delaware's official records (legis.delaware.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.