Senate Bill 309 aims to provide legal immunity to 911 call centers and dispatchers who transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The bill establishes that these public safety answering points are generally protected from civil liability for any outcomes that may arise from such transfers. This immunity is intended to encourage dispatchers to connect individuals in crisis with the appropriate resources without fear of legal repercussions.

However, the bill specifies that this immunity does not apply in cases where the injury resulting from the transfer is due to gross negligence or willful misconduct by the dispatcher or the call center. The new legal language created under section 256.35 (7) (c) clarifies the definition of the national crisis hotline and outlines the conditions under which immunity is granted, thereby reinforcing the importance of providing timely support to individuals in crisis while maintaining accountability for professional conduct.