II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3444 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 7, 2023 Mr. Padilla (for himself, Mr. Tillis , and Ms. Klobuchar ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve the accessibility of 9–8–8, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Local 9–8–8 Response Act of 2023 . 2. 9–8–8 Improvement (a) Definitions In this section: (1) 9–8–8 The term 9–8–8 means 9–8–8, as designated as the universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system under section 251(e)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 251(e)(4) ). (2) Commercial mobile service The term commercial mobile service has the meaning given the term in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332(d) ). (3) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission. (4) Non-service-initialized handset The term non-service-initialized handset has the meaning given that term in section 9.10(o)(3)(i) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (b) Proximity-Based routing (1) In general The Commission shall— (A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, initiate the rulemaking process for regulations to ensure that each phone call and text message made or sent to 9–8–8 is routed to a participating crisis center that is near the geographic area from which the phone call or text message originated; and (B) not later than 180 days after initiating the rulemaking process under subparagraph (A), issue final regulations. (2) Privacy protections In promulgating regulations under paragraph (1), the Commission shall— (A) protect the privacy of individuals who contact 9–8–8 by ensuring that a phone call or text message made or sent to 9–8–8 does not reveal the precise location of the individual who made or sent the phone call, text message, or chat; and (B) ensure that the geographic location used to route the 9-8-8 call or text message is accurate enough to determine the proper participating crisis center without revealing the precise location of the individual who made or sent the phone call or text message. (c) Transmission of all calls and texts (1) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each provider of commercial mobile service transmits all calls and text messages made or sent to 9–8–8, including a call or text message that originates from a non-service-initialized handset (if the call or text message originates on a phone using a compliant radio frequency protocol of the provider). (2) Implementation A provider of commercial mobile service shall comply with the regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date on which the regulations are promulgated. (d) Configuration of multi-Line telephone systems for direct dialing (1) In general Section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 623 ) is amended— (A) in the section heading, by inserting and 9–8–8 after 9–1–1 ; (B) in subsection (a), by inserting or 9–8–8 after 9–1–1 ; and (C) in subsection (b), by inserting or 9–8–8 after 9–1–1 . (2) Applicability (A) In general The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to actions occurring on and after the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (B) Exception The amendment made by paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to the management or operation of a multi-line telephone system installed before the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, if the system is not able to be configured to satisfy the requirements of the amendment, without an improvement to the hardware or software of the system.