Overview
Title
To establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023 wants to make a team to figure out how to better share location information when people call a special phone line (988) for help. This team will study and come up with ideas, like what rules to follow, and then tell their ideas to Congress.
Summary AI
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023 aims to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee to tackle challenges in transmitting geolocation information during calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This committee will include members from various sectors, such as telecom providers and mental health organizations. They are tasked with conducting a study on privacy and technical issues, developing recommendations for potential legislation, and submitting a report to Congress within a year. The committee will dissolve after delivering its report.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
H.R. 6763, titled the "988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023," aims to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee. This committee's main task is to provide detailed recommendations to address challenges associated with transmitting geolocation information during calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The bill outlines the composition of the advisory committee, its duties, powers, and operational guidelines. The legislation seeks to improve crisis response efficiency by enhancing the ability to locate individuals in distress who contact the 988 Lifeline.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several critical issues arise within the bill:
Ambiguity in Funding: Sections 3 and 8 introduce ambiguities related to funding. There is no clear identification of specific funding sources, which raises concerns about whether current appropriations will suffice to support the committee's operations and eventual recommendations effectively.
Potential Conflicts of Interest: Section 5 permits the committee to accept gifts and donations, which could be seen as creating conflicts of interest or favoritism. This aspect lacks adequate oversight or restrictions on the acceptance of gifts.
Authority and Oversight Concerns: Section 6 grants the Chairperson significant autonomy in appointing personnel without regard to civil service laws, which could lead to favoritism and lack oversight for staffing decisions.
Vague Definitions: Section 2 contains vague definitions for terms like "low population State" and "small and rural communities," based on unspecified census data. This lack of precision could lead to inconsistent application or interpretation.
Termination Clause Ambiguities: Section 7 outlines the committee's termination but does not provide contingencies for extension if ongoing work is necessary beyond the initial term.
Impact on the Public
The legislation is positioned to enhance the effectiveness of crisis response systems, particularly for those in mental health crises reaching out through the 988 Lifeline. By potentially improving the transmission of geolocation data, responders can be more quickly and accurately directed to individuals needing urgent assistance, potentially saving lives and improving outcomes.
However, the success of these objectives depends heavily on resolving the funding and procedural ambiguities present in the bill. Inadequate resources or mishandled execution could impede achieving the desired improvements, negatively affecting public trust in emergency response systems.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Telecommunications Service Providers: These providers might face technical and financial pressures due to the need to comply with potentially new geolocation standards. They would also need to navigate privacy and legal regulations introduced as a part of the committee's recommendations.
Public Safety Organizations: The bill could significantly benefit these groups by providing them with better tools and information to respond to emergencies effectively. Clear and actionable standards and guidelines could streamline their operations and improve response efficiency.
Mental Health Organizations: Such groups stand to gain from the improved infrastructure supporting crisis response, enabling them to serve their constituents more effectively. However, they may also need to adapt to any new procedural standards recommended by the committee.
Local and State Governments: While they could see improvements in crisis management within their regions, they might also encounter challenges integrating the committee's recommendations into existing frameworks without additional appropriations.
General Public: Citizens could benefit from enhanced safety and quicker crisis response times if the bill's objectives are realized effectively. However, issues with funding and execution, if not addressed, might counteract potential benefits, causing skepticism or resistance.
Overall, while the bill introduces potentially transformative measures for emergency response to mental health crises, its success is contingent upon addressing significant procedural and operational concerns. Without precise guidance and adequate resources, the laudable goals of the legislation may fall short.
Issues
Potential legal and ethical concerns arise in Section 5, where the committee is granted the power to accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations. This could create conflicts of interest or be perceived as favoritism towards certain individuals or organizations.
The ambiguity in Section 8 regarding funding, which specifies that no additional amounts are appropriated, raises financial concerns. Without clear funding sources, it may limit the resources needed to effectively implement the Act if current appropriations are insufficient.
Section 3 lacks clarity on the funding process for the committee, which might lead to concerns about potential financial burdens or wasteful spending. This lack of specification could complicate the committee's establishment and operational effectiveness.
In Section 6, the significant power given to the Chairperson to appoint and terminate an executive director and other personnel without regard to civil service laws could lead to a lack of oversight and favoritism, creating ethical and operational concerns.
Section 2 contains vague definitions, such as 'low population State' and 'small and rural communities,' which rely on census data without specifying which year's census. This could lead to confusion and inconsistency over time, affecting the bill's interpretability and application.
The lack of checks or accountability measures in Section 5, where broad powers are granted to the committee, could result in unrestricted or excessive exercises of power without adequate oversight, raising legal and governance issues.
Section 7's termination clause does not specify any conditions under which the committee might be extended if further work is needed. This could be problematic if issues arise that require ongoing attention after the initial term.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides the short title for the legislation, which is the “988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023”.
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text provides definitions for various terms used in a legislative act. It describes entities such as service providers for 911 systems, different congressional committees, organizations related to mental health, and various types of locations, communities, and regions. These definitions help clarify the specific meanings of these terms within the context of the bill.
3. Establishment of committee Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, with help from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish an advisory committee within 180 days that will provide recommendations for addressing challenges in sending location information during calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The committee will consist of 14 appointed members from various sectors including telecommunications, public safety, government, and health services, and will meet as needed, with a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson elected from among the members.
4. Duties of Committee Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The committee is tasked with studying how to protect consumer privacy while sharing location details during 988 crisis calls, establishing technical standards, and assessing costs involved. Based on their study, they will suggest laws to address these issues and report their findings and recommendations to Congress and the FCC within a year.
5. Powers of committee Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines the powers of a committee, allowing it to hold hearings, gather information from federal agencies, use postal services, and accept gifts to help carry out its duties under the Act.
6. Committee personnel matters Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines how committee members can receive travel expenses, how the Chairperson can hire staff for the committee, and the rules around their pay. It also allows federal employees to work for the committee without losing their job status and lets the Chairperson hire temporary help if needed.
7. Termination of committee Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The committee will be disbanded 30 days after it submits the report it must provide according to section 4(c) of this Act.
8. Funding Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that the Act will be funded using money that has already been allocated, and no new funds will be requested to implement it.