House Human Services Committee reports bills to boost promotion of 988 crisis lifeline statewide and in state parks

The House Human Services Committee reported two bills as amended that aim to increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

House Bill 564, sponsored in the transcript as presented to the committee, would amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to impose duties on the Department of Human Services to promote the 988 lifeline. Ashley, committee staff, summarized the bill as amending Title 35 to require Department of Human Services involvement in promotion of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Representative Probst, the bill sponsor in the transcript, told the committee the measure would create “a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, a simple 3‑digit number that connects people in crisis with trained counselors 24/7.” She said awareness is lacking in rural and underserved communities and cited advocacy by Faye and Gareth Hall after the death of their son, Christian Hall, as part of the bill’s impetus.

An amendment, A007878, was offered and explained by Ashley. The amendment replaced a 180‑day implementation deadline with a requirement that the Department of Human Services implement the campaign “subject to available funding.” The amendment passed; the committee recorded no negative votes and the bill was reported as amended from the Human Services Committee.

House Bill 415, sponsored in the transcript by Representative Tomlinson (who was not present), would require the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to post information about the 988 lifeline and suicide awareness in state parks and forests. Ashley summarized the original bill as amending the Conservation and Natural Resources Act; an agreed amendment, A00772, revised the statutory reference to amend the Administrative Code of 1929 instead. Representative Marcel, the former sponsor appearing to present on Tomlinson’s behalf, described local steps already taken in Bucks County and recounted that the bill stemmed from suicides and attempted suicides in parks; he said county parks have posted 988 signage and DCNR posting would extend that practice statewide.

Representative Khan, identified in the transcript as a co‑prime on the bill discussed earlier, said, “As a nurse practitioner, I know the rates of suicide just continue to increase,” and urged members to support the legislation. Chair Heffley and other members expressed support during committee discussion. The committee recorded no negative votes on HB415 and reported it as amended.

Both bills were reported out of the Human Services Committee, meaning the committee voted to send the measures to the next step in the House process. The transcript records the committee’s actions (adoption of amendments and reporting the bills as amended) but does not provide a roll‑call tally; committee members signaled no negative votes during the meeting.

The bills do not appropriate new funds in the language recorded in the transcript; the HB564 amendment makes implementation contingent on available funding. The transcript does not specify funding sources or a timetable for agency implementation beyond the amendment’s funding contingency.

What happens next: both bills, now reported as amended from the House Human Services Committee, must proceed through the House legislative process for further consideration. The transcript contains no final enactment, appropriation, or implementation schedule.