Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services
House Bill HB 1477 and Senate Bill SB 5209: See below for current status
Background
Washington’s crisis response system does not ensure coordinated care, and individuals in crisis are often unable to access the resources and support they need. This impacts youth and adults, and individuals in any sort of mental health, suicide or addiction crisis.
Crisis resources are often unavailable or siloed across state and county agencies, and crisis centers are unable to track callers to ensure a cohesive coordinated crisis care response. The recent federal passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act creates an opportunity for Washington to fund significant enhancements to its current system for both youth and adults in all regions and communities of the state. The federal law will enable the state to meet the challenges and needs of its population so that Washingtonians can be treated and recover.
House Bill HB 1477 and Senate Bill SB 5209 propose improvements to the current system so that Washingtonians in crisis are able to receive the help and support they need, in a timely manner.
Proposed Changes
Washington’s legislature is looking to improve the current system through the following changes:
- Adopt the 988 crisis hotline and call center system to respond to all behavioral health crisis
calls by July 2022, per the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act and FCC rules. - Ensure crisis responders have the tools to provide triage and follow-up support, including
real-time information about bed availability. - Create a culturally competent crisis response system for youth and adults, including mobile
response teams, facilities and next-day behavioral health appointments. - Install a new statewide behavioral health crisis response implementation group to oversee
the development of the new system. - Establish funding for the new system through a phased-in tax on phone lines, as authorized
by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020.
Current Status
SSHB1477 was signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 13, 2021.
The second substitute bill reflects numerous changes from the original. In essence, this slimmed-down version of the bill includes the following:
- Supports existing crisis line call centers to address anticipated increased call volume when the new 988 number becomes active in July 2022
- Establishes rules and requirements for improved technology and personnel for the new crisis call center hubs that will implement the new 988 system into the future. These new hubs will be certified by the Department of Health by July 2024.
- Approves a strategy for funding Washington’s new advanced 988 crisis call center hubs with a small, phased-in tax on phone lines.
- Creates a committee of experts to study our current behavioral health system and make recommendations for improving the state’s crisis response system, from 988 intake and screening to treatment in the community.