9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

3/28/2024, 7:45 AM

9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to undertake efforts to protect the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from cybersecurity threats. (The lifeline is a three-digit number that connects callers in suicidal crisis or mental health distress to a national network of crisis centers.)

The bill also expands related reporting requirements. Specifically, the network administrator for the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to SAMHSA, and local and regional crisis centers that participate in the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to the administrator.

Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must conduct a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the lifeline and report the findings to Congress.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 498

Introduced on
2023-01-25

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/6/2024

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
Passed in House
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to undertake efforts to protect the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from cybersecurity threats. (The lifeline is a three-digit number that connects callers in suicidal crisis or mental health distress to a national network of crisis centers.)

The bill also expands related reporting requirements. Specifically, the network administrator for the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to SAMHSA, and local and regional crisis centers that participate in the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to the administrator.

Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must conduct a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the lifeline and report the findings to Congress.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to secure the suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Mental health

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary3/27/2024

9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to undertake efforts to protect the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from cybersecurity thr...


Latest Action3/6/2024
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.