The House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to strip 75% of the proposed funding from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund. That left $10 million.
But late Monday night, House members voted in favor of a budget amendment that would refill whatever was removed from the budget. House Bill 186 – 988 Hotline Appropriations.
“So, [HB 186]If all that $40 million were repealed, $40 million would still be in effect here,” said the amendment’s sponsor, Rep. Cyrus Western (R-Big Horn). “If you take $20 million out of that, that’s $20 million in play here.”
That means, as of Tuesday afternoon, Wyoming’s 988 Lifeline trust fund is still scheduled to receive the full $40 million, theoretically sustaining the service in perpetuity amid the ups and downs of Wyoming’s budget. I will do it.
Breakdown of funds
Wyoming’s hotline transitioned to the 24-hour 988 Lifeline in 2022. And last year, data showed a dramatic increase in its use, including anecdotes that the hotline saved people’s lives. very rarely involved Police, EMS, etc.
Andy Somerville of the Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers said more data needs to be collected from call centers, but early federal and state data suggest Wyoming’s suicide rate is no longer among the highest in the nation. It is said that the number has decreased sufficiently that it is no longer possible to lead.
No one questioned the usefulness of the hotline, but lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday morning pointed to budget constraints that need to be balanced and will spend the full $40 million on 988 this year. I wondered if it was necessary.
HB 186’s sponsor, Rep. John Conrad (R-Mountain View), said the hotline currently costs about $1 million a year.
Mr. Conrad estimates that he could earn approximately $1.3 million to $1.5 million annually in interest from that $40 million to fund current operations, necessary expansions as Lifeline grows, and new text messaging capabilities. I am.
“So I think the money is good,” he said. “That’s why we didn’t come to you today asking for $46 million.”
Some industry heavyweights in Wyoming, including Associated General Contractors of Wyoming and the Wyoming Mining Association, supported this level of funding.
“Between mining and our company, we have over 26,000 employees. [mining associates] …We realize that we are not immune to this influence. Not within our members or their families,” said Pat Joyce, deputy director of the mining association.
Additionally, the $40 million investment was supported by the Wyoming Counseling Association, the conservative advocacy group Freedom Path 307, and former Rep. Pat Sweeney of Casper.
Sweeney said Congress’ decision not to pass a similar funding measure last year was “very disappointing.” Mr. Sweeney argued that he should spend the entire $40 million now, rather than sinking more into savings.
“We were told in the chamber last year that the church would deal with this,” he said. “The church will not deal with this. It is not possible and there is no possibility.”
“To date we have received zero dollars in individual donations.”
Stefan Johansson, Wyoming Department of Health
Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Nichols (R-Cheyenne) also questioned why industry and civic groups are so active in increasing 988’s trust fund if they are so concerned about their employees and neighbors. He questioned whether the same amount of funds had been provided to the government.
Last year, lawmakers established an unfunded trust fund that private organizations could support. But so far, no one has come forward with the issue, according to a senior Wyoming Department of Health official.
“So far, we have received zero dollars in individual donations, mainly because there was no tax benefit for the donation, which we would own. I think it was due to the potential awareness and publicity effect,” said director Stefan Johansson. Tuesday.
In response, Joyce of the Wyoming Mining Association said her association would look to help distribute educational materials and meet other needs if the state decides to permanently fund 988. Stated. She also reminded committee members that her association is “one of the largest contributors to the budget.”
In the end, Rep. Dave Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) proposed an amendment that would reduce the trust fund infusion to $10 million, which was adopted. HB 186, which is much cheaper, passed unanimously out of committee.
Insurance Policy
Late Monday night, well past the bedtime of many Wyoming residents, Rep. Western walked to the microphone on the House floor to support House Budget Amendment No. 33. He said many people are probably wondering why he brought it up.
“At the end of the day, this topic is too important not to be insured,” he says. “The consequences are too severe and the ramifications are too severe if we don’t do everything we can to ensure options to resolve this.”
The amendment provides that the state auditor would transfer $40 million “from the general fund to the 988 System Trust Fund.”
“This appropriation amount is reduced by one dollar ($1.00) for every dollar ($1.00) up to a maximum of forty million dollars ($40,000,000.00) appropriated to the 988 System Trust Fund Account in House Bill 0186 of 2024, which became law. ”.
There was no unanimous agreement. For example, Rep. Tony Locke (R-Casper) said he would like to provide funding on a biennial basis “to bring this a little bit closer to bodies.”
“I honestly truly believe that some of these projects need to be managed much more closely as an organization, and this is a perfect example of that,” he said. “This is so that we can move forward,” he added. This is the direction we want to go in. ”
Still, in response to Locke, Rep. Lloyd Larsen (R-Lander) said Congress would oversee the money generated from that $40 million fund.
“These funds still need to be appropriated through the legislative process,” he said. “So that request will be reflected in the Ministry of Health’s budget and will have to be approved based on how the Ministry feels about the demand for the 988 hotline.”
Ultimately, the budget amendment passed the House by a vote of 37-25.
The third reading of the House budget is scheduled for Wednesday.
additional support
Even if all else fails, House Bill 144 – Suicide Awareness and Prevention License Plates He withdrew from the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.
This will allow people to voluntarily purchase license plates with cool, retro designs (details to be determined), with proceeds from each $100 license plate going to 988’s trust fund.
The idea came to Wyoming County Commission Executive Director Jerimiah Lehman while in Colorado, he told lawmakers. He said he saw new black and white license plates everywhere. Upon closer inspection, we found that people were buying them primarily because they looked cool and didn’t even realize the money was going to disability programs.
“In 2022, the Colorado General Assembly passed a bill authorizing the Department of Transportation to issue four historic license plates, including the black and white plate, which is currently the state’s most popular special subscription plate.” he said.
“It’s kind of a vanity approach,” he says. “They wanted to match their particular vehicle with black and white, and that increased sales tremendously.”
Similarly, Wyoming also offers specialties Wildlife Conservation Fund plate To strengthen that fund. Those people raised nearly $735,000 through plates, fees and donations to the program, Lehman said.
The novel idea was supported by the Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers and Somerville, who added that her organization could help with region-wide marketing for the plates.
Lindsay Simineo of the Wyoming Counseling Association agreed.
“We are so grateful to be supported by such innovative ideas,” she said. “I have absolutely no qualms about what the license plate looks like.”
The bill passed unanimously out of committee.
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