Protecting suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents

(a)

National suicide prevention lifeline program

Section 520E–3(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c(b)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end;(2)in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:

(6)coordinating with the Chief Information Security Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure the program is protected from cybersecurity incidents and eliminates known cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

(b)

Reporting

Section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c) is amended—(1)by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and(2)by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

(f)

Cybersecurity reporting

(1)

In general

(A)

In general

The program’s network administrator receiving Federal funding pursuant to subsection (a) shall report to the Assistant Secretary, in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws—(i)any identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the program within 24 hours of identification of such a vulnerability; and(ii)any identified cybersecurity incidents to the program within 24 hours of identification of such incident.(B)

Local and regional crisis centers

Local and regional crisis centers participating in the program shall report to the program’s network administrator identified in subparagraph (A), in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws—(i)any identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the program within 24 hours of identification of such vulnerability; and(ii)any identified cybersecurity incidents to the program within 24 hours of identification of such incident.(2)

Notification

If the program’s network administrator receiving funding pursuant to subsection (a) discovers, or is informed by a local or regional crisis center pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) of, a cybersecurity vulnerability or incident, within 24 hours of such discovery or receipt of information, such entity shall report the vulnerability or incident to the Assistant Secretary.(3)

Clarification

(A)

Oversight

(i)

Local and regional crisis center

Except as provided in clause (ii), local and regional crisis centers participating in the program shall oversee all technology each center employs in the provision of services as a participant in the program.(ii)

Network administrator

The program’s network administrator receiving Federal funding pursuant to subsection (a) shall oversee the technology each crisis center employs in the provision of services as a participant in the program if such oversight responsibilities are established in the applicable network participation agreement.(B)

Supplement, not supplant

The cybersecurity incident reporting requirements under this subsection shall supplement, and not supplant, cybersecurity incident reporting requirements under other provisions of applicable Federal law that are in effect on the date of the enactment of the 9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act.

(c)

Study

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—(1)conduct and complete a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the 9–8–8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and(2)submit a report of the findings of such study to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.