LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 145
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Chapter 145
(House Bill 293)
AN ACT concerning
Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services – 9–8–8 Trust Fund
FOR the purpose of establishing the 9–8–8 Trust Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund;
requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; requiring the
Maryland Department of Health to designate 9–8–8 as the primary phone number
for the State’s behavioral health crisis hotline; requiring the Department to work to
promote public messaging relating to 9–8–8 services in a certain manner; and
generally relating to behavioral health crisis response services and the 9–8–8
hotline.
BY adding to
Article – Health – General
Section 7.5–5A–01 through 7.5–5A–04 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 5A.
9–8–8 Trust Fund”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)144. and 145.
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
BY adding to
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)146.
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health – General
SUBTITLE 5A. 9–8–8 TRUST FUND. Ch. 145 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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7.5–5A–01.
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “FUND” MEANS THE 9–8–8 TRUST FUND.
7.5–5A–02.
(A) THERE IS A 9–8–8 TRUST FUND.
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE RE IMBURSEMENT FOR
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH :
(1) DESIGNATING AND MAINT AINING 9–8–8 AS THE UNIVERSAL
TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR A NATIONAL SUICIDE P REVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS HOTLINE IN AC CORDANCE WITH THE FE DERAL NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE
DESIGNATION ACT OF 2020; AND
(2) DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTI NG A STATEWIDE INITI ATIVE FOR
THE COORDINATION AND DELIVERY OF THE CONT INUUM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS RESPONSE SERV ICES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING:
(I) CRISIS CALL CENTERS ;
(II) MOBILE CRISIS TEAM SE RVICES;
(III) CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTERS ; AND
(IV) OTHER ACUTE BEHAVIORA L HEALTH CARE SERVIC ES.
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND.
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY ,
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND.
(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF :
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND;
(2) INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND; AND
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 145
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(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURC E ACCEPTED FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND.
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE OF
THE FUND.
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND
IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED.
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO
THE FUND.
(H) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE STATE BUDGET .
(I) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE
OF THE FUND IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF
FUNDING THAT OTHERWI SE WOULD BE APPROPRI ATED FOR CARRYING OU T THE
PURPOSE OF THE FUND.
(J) NO PART OF THE FUND MAY REVERT OR BE CREDITED TO:
(1) THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE; OR
(2) ANY OTHER SPECIAL FUN D OF THE STATE.
(K) THE FUND IS SUBJECT TO AU DIT BY THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE
AUDITS AS PROVIDED IN § 2–1220 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE.
7.5–5A–03.
THE DEPARTMENT , IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE FEDERAL SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, THE NATIONAL
SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE, THE NATIONAL VETERANS CRISIS LINE, AND
OTHER APPROPRIATE EN TITIES, SHALL WORK TO PROMOT E THE PUBLIC
MESSAGING OF 9–8–8 SERVICES IN A CONSIS TENT MANNER .
7.5–5A–04.
ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT
A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE, THE SENATE BUDGET AND
TAXATION COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THAT Ch. 145 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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INCLUDES FOR THE IMM EDIATELY PRECEDING F ISCAL YEAR A DETAILE D
DESCRIPTION OF :
(1) THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS T RANSFERRED AND DISTR IBUTED FROM
THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WI TH § 7.5–5A–02(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE;
(2) THE ADDITIONAL SERVIC ES PROVIDED BY THE F UNDING IN EACH
LOCAL JURISDICTION ;
(3) THE AMOUNT OF ANY UNS PENT FUNDS IN THE FUND; AND
(4) THE REASONS FUNDS IDE NTIFIED UNDER ITEM (3) OF THIS
SECTION WERE NOT SPE NT.
Article – State Finance and Procurement
6–226.
(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General
Fund of the State.
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply
to the following funds:
144. the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund;
[and]
145. the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund; AND
146. THE 9–8–8 TRUST FUND.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That before July 16, 2022, the
Maryland Department of Health shall designate 9–8–8 as the primary phone number for
the State’s behavioral health crisis hotline to provide crisis intervention services and crisis
care coordination to individuals accessing suicide prevention and behavioral health services
from any jurisdiction within the State 24 hours a day, 7 days a week under the federal
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, for fiscal year 2024, the
Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $10,000,000 LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 145
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$5,500,000 to the 9–8–8 Trust Fund established under § 7.5–5A–02 of the Health – General
Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act.
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, April 21, 2022.