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
PL 115-233 (H.R.2345), enacted 08/14/2018

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 Improve-
ment Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal Communica-
tions 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 hot-
line 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 para-
graph (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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132 STAT. 2425 
PUBLIC LAW 115–233—AUG. 14, 2018 
(ii) consult with the North American Numbering 
Council; and 
(iii) review the information provided by the Assist-
ant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subpara-
graphs (B) and (C), respectively, of this paragraph. 
(B) SAMHSA STUDY AND REPORT TO ASSIST COMMIS-
SION.—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 Life-
line; 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. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
Coordination. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
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. 
(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 rec-
ommended dialing code with the National Suicide Preven-
tion 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 gen-
erally, 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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