House switches 988 hotline funding source to Community Health Trust Fund, passes bill

The North Dakota House amended and passed Senate Bill 2,200 to provide funding for the 988 crisis hotline program, replacing a proposed surcharge on phone bills with a transfer from the Community Health Trust Fund.

Representative Nelson explained the Appropriations Committee removed a previously proposed funding mechanism — a 5¢ per month charge on phone bills — and instead directed $500,000 from the Community Health Trust Fund, which is supported by tobacco settlement revenue. Nelson said the change was made because the committee preferred funding the enhancement from the trust fund rather than creating a monthly surcharge. "The only change that the Appropriations Committee made with this bill was the $500,000 that was appropriated was initially a, a 5¢ per month, charge on your, on your telephone bills. And we changed that funding source to the community health trust fund," Nelson said.

Committee members said the funding will support responding to increased text-message volume to the 988 line. The House gave the bill final passage on a recorded vote of 87 yeas and 6 nays; Senate Bill 2,200 was declared passed.

Votes at a glance: Final passage of Senate Bill 2,200 — 87 yea, 6 nay.

The appropriation will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services per the bill text and committee amendments.