This bill establishes a 988 Trust Fund in New Hampshire to enhance support for behavioral health crisis services. It introduces a new subparagraph in RSA 6:12 that allows for the deposit of funds into the trust fund, which will be financed through a telecommunications surcharge, appropriations, federal funds, and donations. The funds will be exclusively used for crisis hotline operations and related services not covered by other insurance. Additionally, the bill creates a Behavioral Health Crisis Services Advisory Commission to oversee the fund's management and distribution, ensuring transparency through annual financial reports from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The legislation also implements a telecommunications surcharge applicable to various telephone services, which will generate revenue for the 988 Trust Fund. Specific provisions exempt sellers with fewer than 150 retail transactions per quarter from remitting the surcharge, provided they submit necessary documentation. The bill includes penalties for late payments and confidentiality protections for surcharge-related records, ensuring that this information is not considered public records. The estimated fiscal impact suggests potential revenues of $0.5 million to $1 million from license plate sales and approximately $7.5 million from the telecommunications surcharge, aimed at covering existing crisis hotline service costs while enhancing the state's capacity to respond to behavioral health crises.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12, 135-C:2
As Amended by the Senate: 6:12, 135-C:2