NV: Senate Finance Committee pushes 988 funding through despite opposition from Republicans
Nevada is one of only five states that passed legislation to fund the 988 National Suicide Prevention programming, but a loophole in the law establishing that fee could significantly limit the amount of money the state would have to build out the crisis care system.
The Senate Finance Committee last week passed Senate Bill 237, which would close a loophole that allows telecommunication companies to collect the 988 fee only on landlines and not cell phones..
The 35-cent charge per line, per month would fund the 988 system, including the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, support centers, and mobile crisis teams for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis or suicidal ideation.
The amended SB 237 is expected to generate $15 million in funding per year versus the current law with the loophole, which would only generate $1.5 million, according to the Nevada Department of Behavioral Health and Human Services.
Telecommunications companies have not yet started charging the fee.
Despite the bill’s potential to fulfill Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s budget recommendation for 988, Republican state Sens. Heidi Seevers Gansert and Pete Goicoechea voted against moving the bill out of Senate Finance. State Sen. Robin Titus, the committee’s other Republican, was excused from the meeting.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/senate-finance-committee-pushes-988-funding-through-despite-opposition-from-republicans/