Summary of AB 2093 (2025-2026) – State 988 Advisory Group
Purpose and intent
- AB 2093, introduced by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, amends Section 53123.3 of the Government Code to extend and formalize the California Health and Human Services Agency’s (CHHS or agency) work on the 988 behavioral health crisis system.
- The core goal is to sustain a state-driven process to design, implement, and continuously improve California’s 988 crisis system, aligned with federal guidance and national best practices, and to ensure ongoing state governance and public reporting.
Key provisions and changes
1. Continuation and scheduling of the state 988 advisory group
- The bill eliminates a previous sunset constraint and requires the state 988 advisory group to meet at least quarterly on an indefinite basis.
- The advisory group must continue meeting at least quarterly through December 31, 2029, with authority for the agency to disband the group on or after January 1, 2030.
Advisory group composition
- The group shall include or be open to participation by: the Department of Health Care Services, the Office of the Surgeon General (the “office” as referenced), the Department of Public Health, county representatives (and entities that employ or contract with county behavioral health agencies), health plans, emergency medical services, law enforcement, consumers, families, peers, 988 centers, and other local and statewide public agencies.
Responsibilities and deliverables
- The advisory group and CHHS must develop and make recommendations on a comprehensive set of topics to support a five-year implementation plan for a 988 system. These topics include, but are not limited to:
- National and federal standards: operational and clinical standards, training requirements, and policies for transferring callers to appropriate centers or subnetworks.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) relationship: maintaining an active agreement with the NSPL administrator.
- State technology compliance and governance: ensuring technology requirements for 988 operation are met and establishing a state governance structure for crisis services accessed through 988.
- Infrastructure, staffing, and training: standards to ensure statewide access to crisis counselors via phone, text, and chat 24/7.
- Crisis stabilization and warm handoffs: access to stabilization services and effective triage/hand-offs from 911 and 988.
- Funding and policy changes: addressing statewide and regional needs, plus potential changes to funding and reimbursement mechanisms.
- Public communications: statewide and regional messaging aligned with NSPL and SAMHSA guidance.
- Coordination across the crisis continuum: ensuring 988 works in concert with other crisis services, including mobile crisis, and enabling timely responses while preserving safety in high-risk situations.
- Measurable goals and outcomes: establishing metrics, benchmarks, and improvement targets; evaluating capacity, wait times, and demand; and informing reimbursement expectations related to Medi-Cal or other plans.
- System assessment: findings from a comprehensive assessment of the crisis services system, including infrastructure, capacity, mobile crisis teams, warm lines, and crisis stabilization.
- Budget and funding mechanisms: processes for annual operating budgets, 988 surcharge rates, and funding distribution for the 988 system (referencing existing statutes on funding structures).
- Federal funding and reimbursement: strategies to maximize federal funding (e.g., Medicaid reimbursement for services and IT), and coordination with the Department of Insurance and the Department of Managed Health Care to ensure reimbursement for 988 services, consistent with federal parity requirements.
Reporting and transparency
- Through December 31, 2029, CHHS must post regular updates—no less than annually—on the implementation and progress of 988 on its public internet site.
Financial and regulatory alignment
- The bill references, and is designed to work with, related statutes and codes governing 988 funding, Medicaid participation, and health plan reimbursements, ensuring alignment with California Health and Safety Code provisions and federal Communications Act considerations (including the 988 surcharge framework).
Affected parties and potential impacts
- State agencies: CHHS and its departments (e.g., Department of Health Care Services, Department of Public Health) responsible for implementing and guiding 988.
- Local governments and providers: counties, county behavioral health agencies, and subcontractors; 988 centers; mobile crisis services; crisis stabilization providers.
- Public safety and law enforcement: coordination with EMS and law enforcement to ensure appropriate crisis response and warm handoffs.
- Consumers, families, peers: direct beneficiaries of improved access to crisis services and clearer governance.
- Health plans and insurers: reimbursement coordination for 988-related services.
- General public: through ongoing public communications and transparency about 988 implementation progress.
Timeline and procedural notes
- No later than December 31, 2024: agency to create a set of recommendations to support a five-year 988 implementation plan and convene the state 988 advisory group.
- Advisory group: mandated to meet at least quarterly through December 31, 2029; disbanding after January 1, 2030 is permitted at the agency’s discretion.
- Annual public updates on 988 implementation required through December 31, 2029.
Policy framing
- The bill emphasizes a structured, ongoing state role in governance, funding, and evaluation of California’s 988 crisis system, integrating federal guidance, regional needs, and accountability through measurable outcomes and public reporting.
