National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017

Summary:  National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to coordinate with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study that: (1) examines the feasibility of designating a three-digit dialing code (N11 dialing code) for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and (2) analyzes the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) as of the date on which the study is initiated, including how well it addresses the needs of veterans.  To assist the FCC in conducting the study, SAMHSA shall analyze and report to the FCC on: (1) the potential impact of such designation of a dialing code on suicide prevention, crisis services, and other suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotlines; and (2) possible recommendations for improving the NSPL generally. The VA shall study and report to the FCC on how well the NSPL and the Veterans Crisis Line are working to address the needs of veterans. The FCC, in coordination with SAMHSA and the VA, shall report on the study to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 4) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``National Suicide Hotline Improvement 
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
    In this Act--
        (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications 
    Commission;
        (2) the term ``covered dialing code'' means a simple, easy-to-
    remember, 3-digit dialing code; and
        (3) the term ``N11 dialing code'' means an abbreviated dialing 
    code consisting of 3 digits, of which--
            (A) the first digit may be any digit other than ``1'' or 
        ``0''; and
            (B) each of the last 2 digits is ``1''.
SEC. 3. STUDIES AND REPORTS.
    (a) Primary Study.--
        (1) In general.--The Commission, in coordination with the 
    Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct a study that--
            (A) examines the feasibility of designating an N11 dialing 
        code or other covered dialing code to be used for a national 
        suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and
            (B) analyzes the effectiveness of the National Suicide 
        Prevention Lifeline as of the date on which the study is 
        initiated, including how well the lifeline is working to 
        address the needs of veterans.
        (2) Requirements.--
            (A) Commission.--In conducting the study under paragraph 
        (1), the Commission shall--
                (i) consider--

                    (I) each of the N11 dialing codes, including the 
                codes that are used for other purposes; and
                    (II) other covered dialing codes;

                (ii) consult with the North American Numbering Council; 
            and
                (iii) review the information provided by the Assistant 
            Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the 
            Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subparagraphs (B) and 
            (C), respectively, of this paragraph.
            (B) SAMHSA study and report to assist commission.--To 
        assist the Commission in conducting the study under paragraph 
        (1), the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
        Use shall analyze and, not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, report to the Commission on--
                (i) the potential impact of the designation of an N11 
            dialing code, or other covered dialing code, for a suicide 
            prevention and mental health crisis hotline system on--

                    (I) suicide prevention;
                    (II) crisis services; and
                    (III) other suicide prevention and mental health 
                crisis hotlines, including--

                        (aa) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; 
                    and
                        (bb) the Veterans Crisis Line; and
                (ii) possible recommendations for improving the 
            National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, which may 
            include--

                    (I) increased public education and awareness; and
                    (II) improved infrastructure and operations.

            (C) VA study and report to assist commission.--To assist 
        the Commission in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall study and, not later than 
        180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, report to the 
        Commission on how well the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
        and the Veterans Crisis Line, as in effect on the date on which 
        the study is initiated, is working to address the needs of 
        veterans.
    (b) Primary Commission Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the 
    Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit a report on the study 
    conducted under subsection (a) that recommends whether a particular 
    N11 dialing code or other covered dialing code should be used for a 
    national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system 
    to--
            (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate;
            (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
        of the Senate;
            (C) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate;
            (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (E) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives.
        (2) Additional contents.--If the report submitted by the 
    Commission under paragraph (1) recommends that a dialing code 
    should be used, the report shall also--
            (A) outline the logistics of designating such a dialing 
        code;
            (B) estimate the costs associated with designating such a 
        dialing code, including--
                (i) the costs incurred by service providers, 
            including--

                    (I) translation changes in the network; and
                    (II) cell site analysis and reprogramming by 
                wireless carriers; and

                (ii) the costs incurred by States and localities;
            (C) provide recommendations for designating such a dialing 
        code;
            (D) provide a cost-benefit analysis comparing the 
        recommended dialing code with the National Suicide Prevention 
        Lifeline, as in effect on the date on which the report is 
        submitted; and
            (E) make other recommendations, as appropriate, for 
        improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, 
        which may include--
                (i) increased public education and awareness; and
                (ii) improved infrastructure and operations.
SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
    No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act. This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
authorized.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.