§ 53123.1.5

For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “988” means the three-digit telephone number designated by the Federal Communications Commission for the purpose of connecting individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis with the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system in accordance with Section 52.200 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) “988 center” means a center operating on a county or regional basis in California and participating in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network to respond to statewide or regional 988 calls.

(c) “Agency” means the California Health and Human Services Agency.

(d) “Behavioral health crisis services” means the continuum of services to address crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, and crisis residential treatment needs of those with a mental health or substance use disorder crisis that are wellness, resiliency, and recovery oriented. These include, but are not limited to, crisis intervention, including counseling provided by 988 centers, designated 988 centers, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization services.

(e) “Designated 988 center” means a center that has applied for and obtained approval from the State Department of Health Care Services to operate a designated 988 center on a county or regional basis in California, participate in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network to respond to statewide or regional 988 calls, and receive funding from the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund.

(f) “Interoperable solution” means a preprogrammed function capable of facilitating real-time communication between 911 public safety answering points and 988 centers or designated 988 centers, including, but not limited to, call merging and warm handoffs.

(g) “Mobile crisis team” means a multidisciplinary behavioral health provider team that meets the standards and requirements to provide community-based mobile crisis response services under the Medi-Cal program and other requirements as set forth by the State Department of Health Care Services.

(h) “National Suicide Prevention Lifeline” or “988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline” means the national network of local crisis hotline centers that provide free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or other behavioral health crisis 24 hours per day, seven days per week via a toll-free telephone hotline number that receives calls made through the 988 system. The toll-free telephone number is maintained by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use under Section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act, Section 290bb-36c of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(i) “Office” means the Office of Emergency Services.

(j) “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration” means that agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 252, Sec. 1. (AB 173) Effective September 18, 2026.)