AB1540 - 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: LGBTQ+ youth.

Amended IN Senate August 27, 2026 Amended IN Senate June 15, 2026 Amended IN Assembly March 19, 2026 Amended IN Assembly February 17, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1540 Introduced by Assembly Member Mark González (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Lee and Ward) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Bonta, Elhawary, Haney, Harabedian, Jackson, Pellerin, Schiavo, Solache, Wallis, Zbur, Aguiar-Curry, Boerner, and Stefani) (Coauthors: Senators Gonzalez, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Rubio, Wiener, and Becker) January 05, 2026 An act to add Section 53123.7 53123.8 to the Government Code, relating to mental health, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1540, as amended, Mark González. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: LGBTQ+ youth. Existing federal law, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, designates the 3-digit telephone number “988” as the universal number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Existing law, the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, requires, among other things, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to verify that technology that allows for transfers between 988 centers, as well as between 988 centers and 911 public safety answering points, is available to 988 centers and 911 public safety answering points throughout the state, to appoint a 988 system director, and to verify interoperability between and across 911 and 988. Existing law establishes the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund and provides that 988 surcharge revenue in the fund is available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the act. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency (agency) to annually determine whether an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline is activated by the federal government under 988 and would make implementation of this bill contingent on the agency’s determination, as specified. 988. When making this determination, the bill would require the agency to consider specified factors, including, among other things, any factor the agency considers relevant to evaluating the adequacy of press 3 operations. The bill would require OES authorize the agency to, no later than 6 months after the agency’s its determination, request the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to enable a allow the state to implement the press 3 function at the state level for calls originating in the State of California to California, which would allow callers to dial 988 “988 ” and press “3” to be automatically routed to a specialized call 988 center. The bill would require OES and the agency to, no later than 12 months following the approval by SAMHSA, ensure that the specified press 3 function technologies are available. This bill would require, no later than 12 months following approval by SAMHSA, the agency to identify and contract with a qualified entity or entities that specialize in LGBTQ+ suicide prevention services. The bill would require the agency to determine the eligibility criteria, establish an application process, and administer funds to the qualified entity, as specified. The bill would require a qualified entity to comply with various requirements, including having a primary objective of reducing suicide rates or addressing mental health crises. The bill would make its implementation subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) All children, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, deserve to live a full and happy life without suffering from bullying and mental health crises. (b) Attacks on the rights, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ+ youth continue to grow across the country, including in California. These efforts have a measurable impact on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and have led to a rise in bullying, harassment, and discrimination. (c) LGBTQ+ youth have increased reported instances of bullying, hate crimes, and harassment than compared to their heterosexual or cisgender peers. (d) The latest national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in California found that 56 percent of LGBTQ+ youth in California experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in the past year. (e) (1) A longitudinal study published in 2025 reported that mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth has been increasing amid a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, but strong support networks and access to health care were shown to ease symptoms for some. (2) That study found mental health distress increased substantially throughout the study’s first year. LGBTQ+ youth reporting recent anxiety symptoms rose from 57 percent to 68 percent. Those reporting depressive symptoms climbed from 48 percent to 54 percent. Suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ youth grew from 41 percent to 47 percent. (f) Another 2025 study found that most LGBTQ+ people, and especially transgender and nonbinary respondents, reported anti-LGBTQ+ laws and rhetoric has negatively impacted their mental health and well-being. Additionally, a majority of LGBTQ+ people and more than 8 in 10 transgender and nonbinary individuals reported they or their families have faced harassment or discrimination since November 2024. (g) A 2023 study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual students were more than three times more likely to have attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers: that number jumps to almost four times as likely for transgender high school students. In other words, 20 percent of surveyed students who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual reported having attempted suicide compared to 6 percent of their heterosexual peers. This figure jumps to nearly 26 percent for transgender high school students. (h) Research by The Trevor Project also indicates that LGBTQ+ students often struggle to access competent mental health services tailored to their unique experiences. (i) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that schools were the third most commonly known location for hate crimes against LGBTQ+ youth and community members, and that hate crimes more than doubled at elementary and secondary schools and universities from 2018 to 2022, inclusive. The FBI also noted that participation in the collection of the aforementioned data regarding hate crime reports in schools is voluntary for most agencies and is only mandatory for federal agencies; therefore, the figures provided in the FBI’s report are likely incomplete and underreported. (j) Since 2022, 988, the nation’s official hotline for suicide prevention and crisis counseling, has collaborated with several nonprofit organizations that offer specialized services designed to prevent LGBTQ+ youth suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program allowed youth who called “988” to press “3” and automatically be routed to a subnetwork of providers. (k) Since 2022, 1,500,000 contacts were routed to the LGBTQ+ service provider subnetwork. (l) By order of President Donald Trump on June 17, 2025, all funding for LGBTQ+ youth services Press 3 option was halted. This service officially ended on July 17, 2025. SEC. 2. Section 53123.7 is added to the Government Code , to read: 53123.7. SEC. 2. Section 53123.8 is added to the Government Code, to read: 53123.8. (a) It is the intent of the State of California Legislature to continue its long history of advancing policies that support suicide prevention efforts and further the initiative to address our youth mental health crisis. Young LGBTQ+ Californians have benefited from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program since 2022. It is the intent of the Legislature to reinstate this program in California. (b) The (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (f), the California Health and Human Services Agency shall annually determine whether an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline is activated by the federal government under 988. The Office of Emergency Services and the California Health and Human Services Agency shall implement the requirements of this section only after the agency has made a determination that an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline has not been activated by the federal government under 988. (c) Subject to subdivision (b), the Office of Emergency Services shall do both of the following: (2) When determining the adequacy of the federal press 3 option pursuant this subdivision, the agency shall consider all of the following factors: (A) An individual identifying as LGBTQ+ may access the press 3 option. (B) Federal guidance does not limit or discourage any individual identifying as LGBTQ+ from accessing the press 3 option. (C) LGBTQ+ specialized organizations that have historically served, or may serve, LGBTQ+ individuals are not prohibited from operating or supporting the press 3 option. (D) Any other factor the agency considers relevant to evaluating the adequacy of press 3 operations. (c) If an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline has not been activated by the federal government, as determined pursuant to subdivision (b), both of the following apply: (1) No later than 6 months after the California Health and Human Services Agency agency determines that an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline has not been activated by the federal government under 988, the agency may request the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to enable a allow the state to implement the press 3 function at the state level for calls originating in the State of California. A press 3 function shall allow callers to dial 988 “988 ” and press “3” to be automatically routed to a specialized call 988 center or designated 988 center, as set forth in subdivision (e). The office shall also request authorization to enable text or chat features between a caller and a specialized 988 call center by texting “PRIDE” to 988. The specialized 988 call center shall be a qualified entity that meets the requirements described in subdivision (e). (2) No later than 12 months following the approval of the request pursuant to paragraph (1) by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or its contracted 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator, the agency and the Office of Emergency Services shall ensure that press 3 function technologies described in paragraph (1) are available. (d) No later than 12 months following approval of the request submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the California Health and Human Services Agency agency shall identify and contract with a qualified entity or entities, as set forth in subdivision (e), that specialize in LGBTQ+ suicide prevention services. The agency shall determine the eligibility criteria, establish an application process, and administer funds to the qualified entity pursuant to this article. The agency shall also take into consideration whether the applicant is or was previously a part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network. The agency shall prioritize applicants that primarily service LGBTQ+ populations. (e) A qualified entity shall comply with all of the following: (1) Become a “988 center” as and, by December 31, 2029, a “designated 988 center” as those terms are defined in Section 53123.1.5. As a 988 center, the qualified entity shall be eligible for funding and until December 31, 2029, and shall be subject to the requirements under this article. A 988 center shall obtain designation from the State Department of Health Care Services by December 31, 2029, pursuant to Section 53123.7. (2) Maintain policies that comply with the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code), the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Public Law 104-191), and all other applicable state laws governing the protection of sensitive personal and medical information. (3) Have a primary objective of reducing suicide rates or addressing mental health crises. (4) Demonstrate that its mission includes serving the LGBTQ+ population or that it employs staff or volunteers who have completed extensive training in responding to LGBTQ+ crisis contacts in a culturally competent manner. The qualified entity shall ensure that trained staff or volunteers are available to respond to those contacts through an established routing system. (f) This section shall only be implemented subject to an appropriation by the Legislature and if both of the following occur: (1) The Office of Emergency Services obtains and maintains the necessary federal approvals to enable a press 3 function for calls. (2) The agency, in consultation with the State Department of Health Care Services, determines that other federal funding sources, including grants issued by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are not jeopardized. SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to address the urgent LGBTQ+ youth suicide crisis we face in California, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.