119 HR 8620 IH: Caregiver Access to Resources and Emotional Support Hotline Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-04-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8620IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 30, 2026Mr. Menendez (for himself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Correa, and Ms. Lofgren) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to establish a hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Caregiver Access to Resources and Emotional Support Hotline Act or the CARES Hotline Act.
2.
National Hotline for Caregivers of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
(a)
In general
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:<enum>V</enum><header>Caregiver support</header><section id="HFF5DB7D823D74B8A898ACA80E83FF95B"><enum>501.</enum><header>National Hotline for Caregivers of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities</header><subsection id="H396CA0BE368043DD8FB52C1105B8137C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall maintain, directly or by awarding a grant or entering into a contract with an eligible entity, a national hotline to provide emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental health and resources to caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities.</text></subsection><subsection id="H52869AEFDBD94EFCBFA9763EA35F899E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for hotline</header><text>The hotline under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="HE3181A4B974A4D9585A03F83BA977768"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be toll-free;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H01AB9F59BF8C476E9D484C7147D2C6D0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>be a 24/7 real-time hotline;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBEDE5A67086241A6B853A3F3D8C556B5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide voice and text support;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCFD3B756998747ECA2B7843ECD3DA0C4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be staffed by trained personnel who receive standardized training in caregiver support, crisis response, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4C364859CE8D4D63BAFE5118E9E53BFA"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include peer-to-peer staff who will work alongside the professionals specified in paragraph (4);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H90B83B9732164A5C99DC4704A5BF9CCD" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <enum>(6)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide referral services to local, State, and Federal resources, including crisis support, adult services, transition programs, and in-home supports to meet the needs of caregivers, including family and household members, of individuals with developmental disabilities.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H321A89E3213648E6A3F2D4B1E0BC2849"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In maintaining the hotline under subsection (a), the Secretary (or eligible entity) shall—</text><paragraph id="HC0FED91AF7A7468D97746EBABD51FE08"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult with the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, & Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council to ensure that caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities are connected in real-time to the appropriate specialized hotline service;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F871BCFEC9B489BB1B60360711C1750"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop, maintain, and regularly update a national database of services, supports, and resources for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE65CC01C747146E086F309719D39EFF6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Training program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible entity that receives a grant or enters into a contract to maintain the hotline under this section shall design, implement, and maintain training programs for the personnel described in subsection (b)(4).</text></subsection><subsection id="H40062A5576AA4306A0D8DDDD9CF53AD8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making a grant or entering into a contract under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to entities that have in effect a partnership with a community-based organization.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1324A1331187409D97B9F08102402A8F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Public awareness campaign</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary (or eligible entity) shall conduct national outreach and public awareness activities to raise awareness of the hotline through—</text><paragraph id="HD065F873B2EA4D21A336EAEEE83BF75C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>maintaining a public-facing website; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H745552F71358428698A258799ABF15B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>developing and distributing educational and promotional materials.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFBF09A11C9F9409690B8B6ECC4E937B7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the hotline under subsection (a) and implementation of this section, including—</text><paragraph id="H896D9AC348A14060A63F6164125D8238"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an evaluation of the effectiveness of activities conducted or supported under subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4CF046E2F7F3497E861C0E565E0FF607"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a directory of entities or organizations to which staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may make referrals.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H402C016E7E21498BAF64145E60443100"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Eligible entity defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible entity</term> means a nonprofit organization that has—</text><paragraph id="H75290721316143068679F909EBC664CE"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">demonstrated national reach or capacity to serve all States and territories; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1C4873F73A9F4C9C862698FAFBB94BE5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>experience navigating State-by-State service systems.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H18B7C1B1B3FB4C8D839181F39977892A"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.</text></subsection></section>.(b)
Table of contents conforming amendment
The table of contents for such Act is amended by adding at the end the following:Title V—Caregiver SupportSec. 501. National Hotline for Caregivers of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities..