988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 in plain language
1: Short title
This section would let the Act be called the 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025 .
2: Definitions
This section would define the terms used throughout the Act. A 911 system service provider would mean whatever "covered 911 service provider" means under section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any rule that replaces it. Appropriate committees of Congress would mean the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Committee would mean the advisory committee the Act sets up in section 3. A community based mental health organization would mean an organization that serves people with mental health conditions and their families in a community setting. Dispatchable location would mean whatever that term means under section 9.3 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any rule that replaces it. Handset manufacturer would mean a maker of cellular phones. Local crisis center would mean a call center meant to take calls from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line. Local government would mean the government of any political subdivision of a State. Low population State would mean a State with no urbanized area over 250,000 people, based on the most recent decennial census. Mental health services organization would mean an organization or association that represents providers of mental health crisis services or crisis respite services. Public safety answering point would mean whatever that term means under section 9.3 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any rule that replaces it. Small and rural communities would mean a noncore area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area with a population of no more than 250,000, based on the most recent decennial census. State would mean any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and any U.S. territory or possession. Telecommunications service provider would mean whatever "service provider" means under section 52.5(e) of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any rule that replaces it.
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2. Definitions In this Act: (1) 911 system service provider The term 911 system service provider has the meaning given the term covered 911 service provider in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (2) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate ; and (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives . (3) Committee The term committee means the advisory committee established under section 3. (4) Community based mental health organization The term community based mental health organization means an organization that serves individuals with mental health conditions and the families of those individuals in a community setting. (5) Dispatchable location The term dispatchable location has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (6) Handset manufacturer The term handset manufacturer means a manufacturer of cellular phones. (7) Local crisis center The term local crisis center means a call center intended to receive calls from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line. (8) Local government The term local government means the government of any political subdivision of a State. (9) Low population State The term low population State means a State that has no urbanized areas with a population greater than 250,000, as reported in the decennial census. (10) Mental health services organization The term mental health services organization means an organization or association that represents providers of mental health crisis services or crisis respite services. (11) Public safety answering point The term public safety answering point has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (12) Small and rural communities The term small and rural communities means a noncore area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area with a population of not more than 250,000, as reported in the decennial census. (13) State The term State means any of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States. (14) Telecommunications service provider The term telecommunications service provider has the meaning given the term service provider in section 52.5(e) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
3: Establishment of committee
This section would require the Federal Communications Commission, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to set up an advisory committee within 180 days after the Act becomes law. The committee's job would be to give recommendations on the challenges of sending geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, along with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The committee would have 15 members. The FCC would appoint 8 of them: one from a telecommunications service provider or an organization representing them; one from a handset manufacturer or an organization representing them; one from a public safety answering point or an organization representing them; one from a 911 system service provider or an organization representing them; two from State government, with at least one of the two representing a low population State; and two from local government, with at least one of the two representing small and rural communities. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would appoint the other 7 members: one from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; one from a local crisis center or an organization representing local crisis centers; one from the Veterans Crisis Line; one from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; one from a mental health services organization; one from a community based mental health organization; and one person with experience providing services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as experience with 988 access through direct video calling and video relay service. All appointments would have to be made within 30 days after the Act becomes law. Each member would serve for the life of the committee. A vacancy would not affect the committee's powers, and any vacancy would have to be filled the same way the original appointment was made. Once every member has been appointed, the committee would have to hold its first meeting within 30 days. After that, the committee would meet whenever its Chairperson calls a meeting. A majority of members would count as a quorum, but a smaller number of members could still hold hearings. The committee would choose its own Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.
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3. Establishment of committee (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. (b) Membership (1) Composition (A) In general The committee shall be composed of 15 members, to be appointed in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C). (B) Appointments by Federal Communications Commission Of the 15 members of the committee appointed under this paragraph, the Federal Communications Commission shall appoint— (i) 1 member from a telecommunications service provider or an organization that represents telecommunications service providers; (ii) 1 member from a handset manufacturer or an organization that represents handset manufacturers; (iii) 1 member from a public safety answering point or an organization that represents public safety answering points; (iv) 1 member from a 911 system service provider or an organization that represents 911 system service providers; (v) 2 members from a State government, with at least 1 member representing a low population State; and (vi) 2 members from a local government, with at least 1 member representing small and rural communities. (C) Appointments by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Of the 15 members of the committee appointed under this paragraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint— (i) 1 member from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (ii) 1 member from a local crisis center or an organization that represents local crisis centers; (iii) 1 member from the Veterans Crisis Line; (iv) 1 member from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; (v) 1 member from a mental health services organization; (vi) 1 member from a community based mental health organization; and (vii) 1 member with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through direct video calling and video relay service. (2) Date The appointments of the members of the committee shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Period of appointment; vacancies (1) In general A member of the committee shall be appointed for the life of the committee. (2) Vacancies A vacancy in the committee— (A) shall not affect the powers of the committee; and (B) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (d) Meetings (1) Initial meeting Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the committee have been appointed, the committee shall hold the first meeting of the committee. (2) Frequency The committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (3) Quorum A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (e) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson The committee shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the committee.
4: Duties of Committee
This section would require the committee to study three things: policy questions about consumer privacy and the legal authority for requiring that geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, be sent with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; technical standards for putting this into practice for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis centers; and whether costs could be recovered or additional funding would be needed for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers. Based on that study, the committee would have to develop recommendations for possible legislation addressing the challenges of including geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with 988 calls. Within 1 year after the Act becomes law, the committee would have to send a report to the appropriate committees of Congress and to the FCC. The report would have to give a detailed statement of the committee's findings and conclusions, along with whatever legislative and administrative recommendations the committee thinks are appropriate.
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4. Duties of Committee (a) Study The committee shall conduct a study on— (1) policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (2) technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis centers; and (3) potential recovery of costs or additional funding requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers. (b) Recommendations Based on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), the committee shall develop recommendations on potential legislation that would address challenges relating to the inclusion of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the committee shall submit to appropriate committees of Congress and the Federal Communications Commission a report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the committee, together with the recommendations of the committee for such legislation and administrative actions as the committee considers appropriate.
5: Powers of committee
This section would let the committee hold hearings, meet and act at whatever times and places it decides, and take testimony and gather evidence it considers useful for carrying out the Act. The committee could get information directly from any federal department or agency that it considers necessary for its work, and if the committee's Chairperson asks, the head of that department or agency would have to provide the information. The committee could use the U.S. mail the same way other federal departments and agencies do. The committee could also accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donated services or property.
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5. Powers of committee (a) Hearings The committee may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the committee considers advisable to carry out this Act. (b) Information from Federal agencies (1) In general The committee may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the committee considers necessary to carry out this Act. (2) Furnishing information On request of the Chairperson of the committee, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the committee. (c) Postal services The committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. (d) Gifts The committee may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
6: Committee personnel matters
This section would let committee members receive travel expenses, including a per diem instead of reimbursing actual living costs, at the rates federal agencies use for their employees under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 of the United States Code, whenever they travel away from home to do committee work. The Chairperson could hire and fire an executive director and other staff needed for the committee's work without following normal civil service hiring rules, except that hiring the executive director would need the committee's confirmation. The Chairperson could also set pay for the executive director and other staff without following the usual federal job classification and General Schedule pay rules, except that no one's pay could exceed the rate for level V of the Executive Schedule. A federal employee could be loaned to the committee without the committee reimbursing their home agency, and doing so would not interrupt or cost that employee their civil service status or benefits. The Chairperson could also hire temporary or part-time help under section 3109(b) of title 5 of the United States Code, at a daily rate no higher than the daily equivalent of the annual pay rate for level V of the Executive Schedule.
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6. Committee personnel matters (a) Travel expenses A member of the committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the committee. (b) Staff (1) In general The Chairperson of the committee may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the committee to perform its duties, except that the employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the committee. (2) Compensation The Chairperson of the committee may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. (c) Detail of government employees A Federal Government employee may be detailed to the committee without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (d) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services The Chairperson of the committee may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
7: Termination of committee
This section would end the committee 30 days after it submits the report required under section 4.
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7. Termination of committee The committee shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the committee submits the report required under section 4(c).
8: Funding
This section would require the Act to be carried out using money that has already been appropriated, and it would not authorize any additional money to be appropriated to carry out the Act.
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8. Funding This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated, and no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.