Overview

Title

To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to secure the suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

S. 1007 is a plan to keep the 9-8-8 Lifeline, which helps people in tough times, safe from bad guys on the internet. It wants to make sure there's a team to watch out for trouble and tell others quickly if anything sneaky happens.

Summary AI

S. 1007, also known as the “9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act,” aims to strengthen the cybersecurity of the 9–8–8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer to protect the program from cyber threats. It mandates timely reporting of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents by the program’s network administrators and participating crisis centers. Additionally, it calls for a study by the Comptroller General to evaluate the cybersecurity risks associated with the lifeline.

Published

2025-03-12
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-03-12
Package ID: BILLS-119s1007is

Keywords AI

cybersecurity suicide prevention 9-8-8 lifeline public health service act cyber threats privacy concerns crisis centers vulnerability reporting comptroller general study cybersecurity funding

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
884
Pages:
5
Sentences:
16

Language

Nouns: 294
Verbs: 57
Adjectives: 36
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 27
Entities: 56

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.50
Average Sentence Length:
55.25
Token Entropy:
4.83
Readability (ARI):
30.74

AnalysisAI

Overview

The proposed legislation, identified as S. 1007, seeks to amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to fortify the suicide prevention lifeline against cybersecurity threats. Officially named the "9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act," this bill underscores the importance of securing the cyber infrastructure of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a crucial resource for individuals in crisis. The bill outlines protocols for identifying and reporting cybersecurity incidents and mandates a study to evaluate the current cybersecurity posture of the lifeline.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several issues arise from the bill. Firstly, the absence of a specific budget or funding allocation for the proposed cybersecurity measures presents a potential challenge. Without clear financial backing, it is difficult to anticipate the effectiveness of these measures or assess the risk of inefficient spending.

Secondly, the division of cybersecurity responsibilities between local and regional crisis centers and the program's network administrator may create confusion. The bill lacks explicit guidelines defining the roles and expectations of each entity, potentially leading to inefficient management of cybersecurity threats.

Furthermore, the bill requires the reporting of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours. While promptly addressing these threats is critical, this stringent timeframe may not always be practical, raising the likelihood of compliance difficulties.

The bill also doesn't specify how personal privacy will be safeguarded during the reporting of cybersecurity incidents. This omission might raise concerns, especially given the sensitive nature of the data handled by suicide prevention services.

Lastly, the term "known cybersecurity vulnerabilities" is vague and can be interpreted in multiple ways. This ambiguity could hinder the consistent and effective implementation of the bill’s provisions.

Impact on the Public

If successfully implemented, the bill may result in a more secure and reliable suicide prevention lifeline, potentially protecting sensitive personal data and enhancing the service's overall safety for the public. It aims to ensure that those reaching out for help do not fall victim to cyber threats, thereby maintaining public trust in this critical resource.

However, the inherent issues, such as possible strains from unclear role definitions and a lack of detailed privacy protections, could impact the lifeline's effectiveness and accessibility. If stakeholders struggle with compliance due to impractical deadlines or ambiguous guidelines, the quality and speed of help offered might suffer.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The primary stakeholders affected by this bill include the operators of the suicide prevention lifeline and its network of local and regional crisis centers. These centers will need to enhance their cybersecurity measures, which may necessitate increased spending or resource allocation—efforts potentially hampered by the lack of designated funding in the bill.

For cybersecurity professionals and the Department of Health and Human Services, this bill signifies increased responsibility. They will need to collaborate closely to identify vulnerabilities promptly and ensure continuous protection, suggesting a possible increase in workload without additional financial support.

In conclusion, while the bill's intent to secure a vital public service is commendable, addressing the highlighted issues will be crucial for its successful implementation and to avoid unintended negative impacts on the lifeline's operation and service delivery.

Issues

  • The bill does not specify specific budget or funding allocations for the cybersecurity measures outlined in Section 2. This lack of detail makes it difficult to ascertain potential financial implications and risks of wasteful spending.

  • The responsibilities for cybersecurity oversight are split between local/regional crisis centers and the program's network administrator in Section 2, which may lead to confusion and inefficiencies due to unclear role definitions and expectations.

  • The requirement to report cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours, as stated in Section 2, may be impractical in certain circumstances and could result in compliance challenges for participating entities.

  • The absence of detailed guidelines on protecting personal privacy during the reporting of cybersecurity incidents in Section 2 could lead to privacy concerns, particularly when sensitive data is involved.

  • The term 'known cybersecurity vulnerabilities' used in Section 2 is vague and could be open to broad interpretation, potentially leading to execution difficulties and inconsistencies in addressing cybersecurity threats.

  • Section 1 contains only a short title and offers no additional information, making it difficult to assess potential issues related to the bill’s applicability or scope.

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 first section of the bill names it the "9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act."

2. Protecting suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section of the bill aims to protect the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from cybersecurity threats by requiring coordinated efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services, immediate reporting of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents, and a study to evaluate the program’s cybersecurity risks. Local and regional crisis centers must report any cybersecurity issues within 24 hours to ensure swift action and compliance with privacy laws.