This bill establishes a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee of $0.40 per line for New Jersey residents who subscribe to commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services, with an exemption for users receiving benefits under the federal Lifeline program. The fee will be collected by the telecommunications companies upon payment of periodic bills and will be reported to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The collected fees will be credited to the newly created "9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account," which is established within the General Fund of the Department of the Treasury.

The funds from this account will be appropriated annually to cover expenses related to the 9-8-8 Lifeline, including the efficient routing of calls, provision of mental health services, and public awareness campaigns. The bill mandates that the Department of Human Services, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury, submit an annual report detailing the funds collected, expenditures, service expansions, and recommendations for potential adjustments to the fee. This act is set to take effect immediately, applying to billing periods that end on or after the first day of the first calendar quarter following 30 days from the date of enactment.