1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; appropriating money to expand statewide the voice 
1.3 	response suicide prevention and mental health crisis response program.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; VOICE RESPONSE SUICIDE PREVENTION 
1.6 	AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM.
 1.7 	$1,386,534 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.8 	commissioner of human services for a grant to a nonprofit organization that provides a 
1.9 	24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, call center for persons who are experiencing a 
1.10 	mental health crisis, including persons at risk of suicide, to make fully available statewide 
1.11 	and to stabilize the availability of the telephonic suicide prevention and mental health 
1.12 	crisis voice response program. The program shall operate statewide and provide a voice 
1.13 	response line that triages calls and provides immediate access to suicide prevention and 
1.14 	mental health crisis counseling over the telephone. The program shall connect individuals 
1.15 	with trained mental health crisis counselors; access to local resources, including referrals 
1.16 	to community mental health options; emergency departments; and locally available mobile 
1.17 	crisis teams, when appropriate. The program shall be provided in conjunction with the 
1.18 	text message suicide prevention program to maximize availability of services and access 
1.19 	across the state. The program shall provide community education on the program and how 
1.20 	to access it. This is an ongoing appropriation and shall be added to the base.