[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2345 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2345
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 3, 2017
Mr. Stewart (for himself, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr.
McKinley, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Thompson of
Pennsylvania, and Mr. Bishop of Utah) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Suicide Hotline Improvement
Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the National Center for Health Statistics,
suicide rates in the United States have surged to their highest
levels in nearly 30 years.
(2) The overall suicide rate rose by 24 percent from 1999
to 2014.
(3) The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-
TALK [8255]), created under the leadership of the Center for
Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (commonly known as ``SAMHSA''), is a
network of 161 crisis centers that provide a toll-free hotline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone experiencing a mental
health or suicidal emergency or crisis.
(4) In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement
and Administration of Justice recommended the creation of a
single telephone number that could be used nationwide for
reporting emergencies.
(5) In 1968, the Federal Communications Commission agreed
upon the number 9-1-1, one of eight N11 dialing codes, as a
simple, easy-to-remember telephone number to be the dedicated
number for reporting emergencies, and 9-1-1 became the national
emergency number for individuals in the United States to access
police, fire, and ambulance services.
(6) Based on the success of the 9-1-1 nationwide emergency
number, a study by the Federal Communications Commission
regarding the use of a simple, easy-to-remember dedicated 3-
digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health
crisis hotline system would be beneficial in the prevention of
suicide nationwide.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant
Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use;
(2) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission;
(3) the term ``covered dialing code'' means a simple, easy-
to-remember, 3-digit dialing code; and
(4) 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. 4. FCC STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the
Assistant Secretary, shall conduct a study that--
(A) 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) analyzes the effectiveness of the current
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, including how
well the lifeline is working to address the needs of
veterans.
(2) Requirements.--In conducting the study under paragraph
(1), the Commission shall--
(A) request that the Assistant Secretary study and
report to the Commission on 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;
(iii) the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline; and
(iv) the Veterans Crisis Line;
(B) consider--
(i) each of the N11 dialing codes,
including the codes that are used for other
purposes; and
(ii) other covered dialing codes;
(C) consult with the North American Numbering
Council; and
(D) consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
with respect to how well the current National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline is working to address the needs of
veterans.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study
conducted under subsection (a) that--
(1) recommends a particular N11 dialing code or other
covered dialing code to be used for a national suicide
prevention and mental health crisis hotline system;
(2) outlines the logistics of designating such a dialing
code;
(3) estimates the costs associated with designating such a
dialing code, including--
(A) the costs incurred by service providers,
including--
(i) translation changes in the network; and
(ii) cell site analysis and reprogramming
by wireless carriers; and
(B) the costs incurred by States and localities;
(4) provides legislative recommendations for designating
such a dialing code;
(5) provides a cost-benefit analysis comparing the
recommended dialing code with the current National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline; and
(6) makes other recommendations for improving the national
suicide prevention lifeline system generally, which may
include--
(A) increased funding;
(B) increased public education and awareness; and
(C) improved infrastructure and operations.
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