Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services, the official text

H.B. No. 5342

AN ACT

relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services,

including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis

Lifeline and related services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 547, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES

Sec. 547.0551. 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE TRUST FUND.

(a) In this section, "trust company" means the Texas Treasury

Safekeeping Trust Company.

(b) The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline trust fund is

established as a trust fund outside the state treasury to be

administered by the commission.

(c) The trust fund consists of:

(1) gifts, grants, and donations, including federal

funds, received by this state for the purposes of the trust fund;

and

(2) interest, dividends, and other income of the trust

fund.

(d) Money deposited in the trust fund may only be used to:

(1) implement, maintain, or improve the 988 Suicide &

Crisis Lifeline, including personnel and technological

infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve operational and

clinical standards and best practices as provided by the 988

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; and

(2) pay the trust company's expenses of managing the

trust fund's assets.

(e) The trust company shall hold and invest the trust

fund. The trust fund may be invested with the state treasury pool

and may be pooled with other state assets for purposes of

investment.

(f) The overall objective for the investment of the trust

fund is to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet the needs of the

trust fund.

(g) The trust company may acquire, exchange, sell,

supervise, manage, or retain any kind of investment that a prudent

investor, exercising reasonable care, skill, and caution, would

acquire or retain in light of the purposes, terms, distribution

requirements, and other circumstances of the trust fund then

prevailing, taking into consideration the investment of all the

assets of the trust fund rather than a single investment.

(h) The reasonable expenses of managing the trust fund's

assets shall be paid from the trust fund.

(i) The commission at least annually, and more frequently as

appropriate, shall provide to the trust company a forecast of the

cash flows into and out of the trust fund to ensure the trust

company is able to achieve the purposes of this section.

(j) The state may not transfer or use trust fund assets for

any purpose other than the uses provided in this section.

Sec. 547.0552. CRISIS CENTER ANNUAL REPORT. (a) In this

section, "crisis center" means a center participating in the 988

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network to respond to statewide or

regional communications.

(b) The commission shall prepare an annual report of the

usage of crisis centers in this state and the services provided by

the centers.

(c) The commission shall present the annual report to the

legislature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration.

SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "commission" means the

Health and Human Services Commission.

(b) The commission, in collaboration with the Commission on

State Emergency Communications and any other state agency the

commission determines appropriate, shall conduct a study on the

implementation of funding mechanisms to support the operation of

the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, including an evaluation of the

feasibility of establishing a service fee on telecommunication

services.

(c) The study must evaluate how the establishment of a

telecommunication service fee or other funding mechanism will help:

(1) implement, maintain, or improve the 988 Suicide &

Crisis Lifeline, including providing for sufficient staffing

levels, implementing technological improvements, and developing

the capacity of the lifeline to respond to text messages and other

online messages;

(2) enhance local response for crisis intervention

services; and

(3) meet any increased demand on crisis intervention

services as a result of any public awareness campaigns regarding

the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission shall

prepare and submit a report to the legislature on the findings of

the study, including any recommendations for enhancing the crisis

intervention services capacity of this state and an analysis of the

efficacy of implementing a telecommunication service fee or other

funding mechanism for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 5342 was passed by the House on May 7,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 2, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 5342 was passed by the Senate on May

20, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor