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S 8562

Establishes the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aids designated hotline centers in developing protocols for terminating calls to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Griffo

S 8562 - Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law OverviewBill Number: S 8562 Title: Establishes the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aids designated hotline centers in developing protocols for t

REFERRED TO RULES
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Bill Summary · S 8562

S 8562 - Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law

Overview

Bill Number: S 8562
Title: Establishes the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aids designated hotline centers in developing protocols for terminating calls to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline
Status: REFERRED TO RULES
Introduced: November 03, 2025

Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of this bill is to establish the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aims to provide guidance and support to designated suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline centers. The bill is named after Mariah N. Lacey-Reid, a young woman who tragically died by suicide after being disconnected from a crisis hotline call. The legislation seeks to prevent similar incidents by requiring hotline centers to develop clear protocols for safely and compassionately terminating calls when necessary.

Key Provisions

  • Requires all designated suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline centers to establish written protocols for call termination
  • Protocols must include procedures for:
    • Assessing risk and determining when call termination is appropriate
    • Providing referrals and follow-up resources to callers before disconnecting
    • Documenting the rationale and outcome of terminated calls
  • Mandates annual training for hotline staff on the new call termination protocols
  • Directs the state Department of Mental Health to provide technical assistance and oversight to ensure compliance

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline centers will be required to develop and implement new call termination protocols, which may require additional staff training and resources
  • Individuals calling these hotlines, especially those in acute crisis, will benefit from more consistent and compassionate handling of call terminations
  • The broader community may see improved outcomes and reduced suicide rates if the legislation is effective in preventing premature disconnections from crisis support

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee for further consideration. If passed by the committee, it would then proceed to a full Senate vote. If approved by the Senate, the bill would move to the House for consideration before potentially being signed into law by the governor. The timeline for this process is uncertain, but legislative analysts expect it could take several months to a year for the bill to complete the full legislative cycle.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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