Bill > HB138

This bill establishes a behavioral health crisis services surcharge of $0.98 per month on each wireless and wireline telephone number in Alaska, to be collected by telephone companies and remitted to the state. The surcharge will fund the creation and maintenance of the 988 behavioral health crisis hotline and related services, including establishing infrastructure, providing crisis services, recruiting and training behavioral health personnel, offering culturally competent services, conducting public education, and supporting data collection and quality improvement efforts. Telephone companies will bill customers for the surcharge, retain a small administrative fee (the greater of 1% or $150), and are required to attempt to collect any unpaid surcharges. The funds will be deposited into a new behavioral health crisis services fund within the state's general fund, with the legislature able to appropriate the annual balance to the Department of Health for the specified purposes. Each customer will be limited to one surcharge per telephone line, and customers with over 100 lines will only be charged for 100 lines. The surcharge and fund will take effect on July 1, 2026, with the goal of improving behavioral health crisis response and support across Alaska.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB138