Landmark mental health crisis response legislation to undergo implementation assessment as part of Speaker Rivas’s new oversight initiative
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) responded this week to the announcement that AB 988, the Miles Hall Lifeline Act, has been selected for an Outcomes Review as part of Speaker Robert Rivas’s first-of-its-kind oversight initiative. The legislation, which established California’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, is one of 14 laws chosen for review to assess and improve implementation.
“I want to thank Speaker Rivas for launching this Outcomes Review initiative and approving my request for oversight of AB 988’s implementation.
In 2021, I authored the Miles Hall Lifeline Act, named in honor of a young man in our community who was tragically killed by law enforcement during a mental health crisis. That legislation established California’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to connect people in mental distress with trained mental health professionals. It also ensured ongoing funding for the system to ensure that this resource withstands the test of time and can achieve the needs of Californians.
The 988 legislation has been one of my proudest achievements, but there is always room to improve. Since launching, we’ve seen tremendous uptake- monthly calls have more than doubled, and crisis counselors are successfully de-escalating situations that once would have resulted in police response. In a 90,000 call sample, only 0.2% of 988 contacts require law enforcement intervention, which shows this system is working to keep people safe.
However, challenges remain, including delays in implementing the full 911-988 interoperability system and ensuring crisis centers have adequate resources to meet growing demand. It also remains unclear how the mobile crisis response roll out that the bill requires is being achieved across California. This response system is critical to providing a health care response to these heath care calls.
This review is about making sure we’re delivering on the promise we made: that when someone is in crisis, they have someone to call and someone appropriate to come respond when needed. Every life saved through 988 matters, and every opportunity to strengthen this system matters even more.”
Taun Hall, mother of Miles Hall and Executive Director of the Miles Hall Foundation, an organization that advocates for non-police responses to mental health crises, educates to dismantle mental illness stigma and racial bias, and supports families impacted by law enforcement’s excessive use of force during mental health emergencies, says “988 is a promise to every Californian to have timely access to effective, high-quality, compassionate support in a mental health crisis. I commend speaker Rivas and Assembly member Bauer-Kahan on their support to keep Miles’ memory alive. This oversite will save lives and ensure 988 consistently delivers across all counties, languages and communities in California .”
The Steinberg Institute, a California-based nonprofit advancing evidence-driven mental health and substance use policy and leadership, writes, “AB 988 is landmark legislation that positioned California as a national leader in implementing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Unfortunately, the state and counties continue to face real implementation challenges in building a coordinated crisis response system. The Steinberg Institute is hopeful that addressing these challenges through Speaker Rivas’ Outcomes Review Oversight Project will strengthen accountability and improve how crisis care is delivered for Californians.”
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