Last week, North Dakota’s  House Committee on Finance and Taxation heard from stakeholders across the state and nationally about the need for sustainable state funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Line. Vibrant Emotional Health, along with Mental Health America and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, submitted written testimony expressing support for Senate Bill 2149, which, as introduced, would establish the 988 crisis hotline program and the 988 crisis stabilization fund, with the inclusion of a 988 surcharge of up to thirty cents per month. 

Surcharges, allowed for under the Designation Act and like the one proposed in SB 2149, are structured similarly to 911 fees in many states and are critical to ensure local contact centers’ ability to respond effectively to those in need. Currently, 911 fees range from $1.50-$2.00 per month in North Dakota, varying by locality. Parity between 911 and 988 fees is important as we collectively work to create a culture where mental and physical health are regarded as equally important components of overall health. Public services, like fire services and 988 crisis services, are a shared social responsibility. According to a recent National Association on Mental Illness survey, three-quarters of adults would be willing to pay a monthly fee to support 988.

Despite supportive testimony from several statewide and national stakeholders, the House Committee ultimately struck the surcharge component from the bill. Instead, it recommended the House pass the bill with a state appropriation for 988.