Assembly 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 introduces a new section, 256.35 (7) (c), which specifies that these public safety answering points and dispatchers will generally not be held civilly liable for any outcomes that arise from such transfers. This immunity is intended to encourage prompt and effective responses to individuals in crisis by ensuring that dispatchers can act without fear of legal repercussions.

However, the bill does include a provision that this immunity does not apply in cases where the injury resulting from the transfer is due to gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the dispatcher or the public safety answering point. This ensures that while the intent is to protect those who are acting in good faith to assist callers, there remains accountability for egregious actions.