Bill > H4084

This bill establishes a 75-cent monthly surcharge on communication services to support the 988 crisis hotline system, which is a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis support service. The surcharge will be applied to various types of communication services, including wireline, wireless, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and IP-enabled services, with specific calculation methods for each service type. Communication service providers will be responsible for collecting the surcharge, which will be shown on customer bills as a "988 Service Surcharge" and will not be subject to sales tax. The collected funds will be deposited into a new Enhanced 988 Fund, which will be used exclusively to support the state 988 crisis hotline center, including funding for training programs, public education, and system maintenance. The Department of Telecommunications and Cable will have oversight responsibilities, including the ability to investigate and adjust the surcharge annually, and communication service providers must report monthly on surcharge collection and related expenses. The bill also includes provisions to protect subscriber privacy and limit provider liability when sharing necessary information for emergency response purposes.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4084