K.S.A. § 75-5971 — KS Code / Chapter 75 / Article 59 / Section 75-5971
75-5971 - 988 coordinating council; membership; terms; advisory duties; annual report.
Status: in_force

75-5971. 988 coordinating council; membership; terms; advisory duties; annual report. (a) (1) There is hereby created the 988 coordinating council.

(2) The 988 coordinating council shall advise the secretary for aging and disability services on the delivery of 988 services, strategies for future enhancements to the 988 system and the distribution of funds to organizations providing services as national suicide prevention lifeline centers. To the extent possible, the council shall include individuals with technical expertise regarding mental health crisis delivery services, call center technology and services and any other relevant subject matter.

(b) (1) The 988 coordinating council shall consist of the following 11 voting members:

(A) Nine voting members appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) One member representing information technology personnel from governmental units;

(ii) one member representing the Kansas sheriff's association;

(iii) one member representing the Kansas association of chiefs of police;

(iv) one member representing the Kansas association of community mental health centers;

(v) one member representing interhab;

(vi) one member from the Kansas department for aging and disability services;

(vii) one member recommended by the Kansas commission for the deaf and hard of hearing;

(viii) one member representing national suicide prevention lifeline centers located in counties with a population of fewer than 75,000; and

(ix) one member representing national suicide prevention lifeline centers located in counties with a population greater than 75,000; and

(B) two voting members appointed by the legislative coordinating council, including one member of the house of representatives standing committee on appropriations and one member of the senate standing committee on ways and means.

(2) The 988 coordinating council shall also include the following nonvoting members appointed by the governor:

(A) One member representing rural telecommunications companies recommended by the Kansas rural independent telephone companies;

(B) one member representing incumbent local exchange carriers with over 50,000 access lines;

(C) one member representing large wireless providers;

(D) one member recommended by the league of Kansas municipalities;

(E) one member recommended by the Kansas association of counties; and

(F) one member recommended by the mid-America regional council who is a resident of Kansas.

(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each voting member appointed to the council shall be appointed for a three-year term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Of the nine voting members appointed by the governor, three shall be appointed to an initial term of two years and three shall be appointed to an initial term of four years, as specified by the governor.

(2) A voting member shall not serve longer than two successive three-year terms. A voting member appointed as a replacement for another voting member may finish the term of the predecessor and may serve two additional successive terms.

(d) The governor shall select the chairperson of the 988 coordinating council, who shall serve as chairperson at the pleasure of the governor. The chairperson shall serve subject to the direction of the council and ensure that policies adopted by the council are carried out. The chairperson shall serve as the liaison between the council and the federal substance abuse and mental health services administration. The chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the council and assist the council in effectuating the provisions of this act.

(e) All expenses related to the council shall be paid from the 988 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline fund established by K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 75-5968, and amendments thereto. Members of the council and other persons appointed to subcommittees by the council may receive reimbursement for meals and travel expenses, but shall serve without other compensation. Legislative members of the council shall be paid compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3212, and amendments thereto, when attending meetings of the council.

(f) Every service provider shall submit contact information for the service provider to the council. Any service provider that has not previously provided wireless telecommunications service in this state shall submit contact information for the service provider to the council within three months of first offering wireless telecommunications services in this state.

(g) On or before the first day of each regular session of the legislature, the 988 coordinating council shall make and submit a report to the house of representatives standing committee on energy, utilities and telecommunications and the senate standing committee on utilities, or any successor committees thereto, that includes a detailed description of all expenditures made by the national suicide prevention lifeline centers.

(h) The provisions of this section shall expire on July 1, 2026.