132 STAT. 2424 PUBLIC LAW 115–233—AUG. 14, 2018 

Public Law 115–233 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of 

designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a national 

suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

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, easyto-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; 

Analysis. 

Examination. 

Coordination. 

National Suicide 

Hotline 

Improvement 

Act of 2018. 

Aug. 14, 2018 

[H.R. 2345] 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–233—AUG. 14, 2018 132 STAT. 2425 

(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. 

Recommendations. 

Coordination. 

Recommendations. 

Analysis. 

Review. 

Consultation. 


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132 STAT. 2426 PUBLIC LAW 115–233—AUG. 14, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2345: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–836 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018): 

July 23, considered and passed House. 

Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(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. 

Approved August 14, 2018. 

Analysis. 

Cost estimate. 


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