California Health and Safety Code — CHAPTER 3.5. Public Awareness of 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services 131325

Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&division=112.&title=&part=1.&chapter=3.5.&article=

(a) The State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the State Department of Health Care Services, shall implement public awareness strategies to assist in the implementation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Article 6.3 (commencing with Section 53123.1) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) in the State of California. The purpose of these strategies shall be to increase public awareness in the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and associated services and conduct statewide evaluation of communication strategies implemented to increase public awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

(b) The State Department of Public Health shall coordinate state behavioral health crisis communications strategies by conducting an assessment of existing communications efforts, developing relevant goals, identifying key audiences, and applying best practices and research-informed resources from community partners. The department shall engage community partners in developing and disseminating behavioral health crisis communications strategies relating to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other support lines and warmlines.

(Added by Stats. 2026, Ch. 252, Sec. 11. (AB 173) Effective September 18, 2026.)