Bill
SB 900
MD makes 9-8-8 the single entry point for crisis response, coordinates with the national network, expands services, and requires annual, public, disaggregated outcome reporting.
Maryland Behavioral Health Crisis Response System — Integration of 9‑8‑8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Network and Outcome Evaluations
Status and effective date
- Enacted as Chapter 658; approved by the Governor on May 20, 2025.
- Effective July 1, 2025.
- Companion bill: HB 1146.
Purpose
- To formally integrate the State 9‑8‑8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline into Maryland’s Behavioral Health Crisis Response System and to strengthen and standardize outcome evaluation and public reporting for crisis services across jurisdictions.
Key provisions and changes
- Replaces the statutory requirement for a “crisis communication center” in each jurisdiction or region with a State 9‑8‑8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (i.e., each locality must have a 9‑8‑8 Lifeline as the single point of entry).
- Requires each local/state 9‑8‑8 Lifeline to coordinate with the national 9‑8‑8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network to provide the network’s full range of services, including:
- supportive counseling, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, referrals; and
- direct dispatches or “warm hand‑offs” to mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization services, and other immediate services as needed.
- Requires coordination between 9‑8‑8 Lifelines and local entities (local behavioral health authorities/core service agencies, police, 3‑1‑1, 2‑1‑1, EMS, other hotlines and behavioral health providers).
- Retains/clarifies an expanded menu of optional local crisis programs (hotlines, walk‑in services, mobile crisis teams, crisis residential beds, bed registries, transportation coordination, etc.).
- Strengthens outcome evaluation requirements. In each jurisdiction/region the Administration must evaluate and annually report specified metrics, including:
- 9‑8‑8 call/text/chat volume and local answer rate;
- 9‑8‑8 resolution data (proportion resolved by phone, by mobile crisis dispatch, transferred to 9‑1‑1);
- mobile crisis dispatch volume, response time, and resolution outcomes (resolved safely in community vs. transfer to higher level of care);
- crisis stabilization center usage and discharge outcomes (to home vs. to higher level of care);
- involvement of law enforcement, involuntary status of clients, and diversion from higher levels of care (including hospital diversions).
- Data sources: ongoing collection from 9‑8‑8 providers and other crisis providers plus consumer/family data; data must be disaggregated by race, gender, age, and zip code.
- Reporting deadline: data must be collected, analyzed, and publicly reported on or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2026.
- Implementation: the Behavioral Health Administration (MDH) to implement services in collaboration with local core service agencies/LBHAs and community members. Advance directives and existing emergency evaluation statutes remain unaffected.
Who is affected
- State and local public health agencies (MDH, Behavioral Health Administration), local behavioral health authorities, crisis call centers/9‑8‑8 providers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization centers, law enforcement, EMS, behavioral health providers, and consumers and families who use crisis services.
Fiscal impact
- MDH general fund costs for staffing and systems to support expanded data collection and analysis. The fiscal note estimates about $63,100 in FY 2026 to hire one part‑time (50%) epidemiologist to establish/oversee data systems; ongoing annual costs are modest and grow in future years per the fiscal note (tables in the fiscal note list FY2027–FY2030 amounts). Revenues unaffected. Local costs expected to be minimal to the extent activities duplicate existing local responsibilities.
Policy intent / likely impact
- Improves statewide integration of 9‑8‑8 with local crisis response, standardizes performance metrics, increases transparency through annual public reporting, and is intended to inform policy to reduce criminal detention and improve diversion to community‑based care.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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