Alabama lawmakers are considering a bill to add a monthly surcharge of 98 cents to cellphone and landline bills to raise about $70 million a year to expand care for people suffering from mental health crises, including those at risk of suicide.
Updated:
“There was recognition that calling 988 doesn’t do you any good if you don’t have the services, particularly crisis services, available to people,” Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell said. The ADMH has three call centers to answer 988 calls. Boswell said the goal is to eventually have a call center at every crisis center.
Reynolds said services are important enough to justify the fee. He said a dedicated funding source would avoid the uncertainty of relying on the General Fund, which rises and falls with the economy.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Google will soon display prewritten texts people in crisis can use to ask for helpThey will appear below information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Read more »
New voucher bill vs. teacher pay raises: Group says bill doesn't benefit teachers'A record, $33 billion budget surplus gave lawmakers a golden opportunity to give Texas teachers, whose average salaries now trail the national average by more than $7,700, the kind of substantial pay raises they deserve and need', says Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina.
Read more »
The Horrifying New ‘Succession’ Episode Gave Us 2020 Election PTSDSunday’s episode of “Succession” takes place on an all-too-familiar election night. But it’s the prescient scenes that eerily echo CNN’s treatment of Trump’s recent Town Hall that really sting.
Read more »
Historic LDS chapel — cracked and battered by 2020 earthquake — faces a future of rubbleWhen it opened in 1926, the Wells Ward chapel in Salt Lake City was described as one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 'finest and largest' meetinghouses. Nearly 100 years later, the building is destined for demolition.
Read more »
Fourth person arrested for 2020 fatal shooting of 8-year-old girl in AkronHe is being charged as a juvenile with aggravated murder, murder, discharging firearms, felonious assault and other charges related to the incident.
Read more »
Even now, Republicans keep forgetting who was president in 2020It’s not just that one Republican forgot who was president in 2020, it’s that several Republicans keep forgetting who was president in 2020.
Read more »