Lawmakers Discuss Phone Surcharge To Support Mental Health Hotline

By Olivia Suh | NJ State House News Service

TRENTON, N.J. – A New Jersey Senate committee moved forward a 40-cent monthly surcharge on phone bills to fund the state’s suicide and crisis hotline after residents testified Monday about how the hotline plays a critical role during mental health emergencies. 

Senate Bill 3013 would establish a statewide fee on residents’ mobile and IP-enabled voice services, with the funds going towards supporting New Jersey’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The hotline connects people in crisis with trained mental health professionals through calls, texts and an online chat. 

“At the end of the day, 988 saves lives, saving people in crisis … a place to turn before a moment of despair becomes irreversible. I’m proud to be a cosponsor and I vote yes,” said Sen. Raj Mukerji, a Democrat from Jersey City. 

Multiple individuals who testified during the committee meeting described their personal experiences, discussing how 988 and speaking with a mental health expert can be crucial in finding a solution when dealing with a loved one during a crisis. They mentioned that while police officers and 911 dispatchers respond when called, they are not always trained to address mental health emergencies, making specialized mental health services a vital resource. 

Committee members who are in support said a permanent funding source is necessary as the hotline calls have increased over the years. Some members suggested that the 40-cent fee is not enough, arguing that the crisis response system should be fully funded to ensure care is accessible to residents across the state. 

Other members of the committee expressed concern about adding another charge to residents’ monthly bills, stating that New Jersey is already high in taxes and fees. 

“We talk about $61 million. It’s not 40 cents, it’s $61 million,” said Sen. Robert W. Singer, a Lakewood Republican who voted against the proposal. “I don’t want to be like California and New York, where people are leaving the states because of the cost of living there.”

Sen. John McKeon, a Democrat from West Orange, drew attention to the fact that adding this extra charge may be easier for some, but residents who are living paycheck to paycheck may find a surcharge an added struggle to their monthly bills. However, McKeon voted in favor of the measure.

The fee would be charged per phone line each month, with exemptions for subscribers who receive benefits through the federal Lifeline program, which provides phone service discounts to low-income consumers. If the bill is signed into law, telecommunications companies would collect the fees and transfer the funds to the state. 

The money would be deposited into a newly established 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund. It would be used to support the hotline operations, mobile crisis response teams, crisis stabilization services and public awareness efforts. The Department of Human Services would also be required to issue an annual report outlining how the funds are spent and note the gaps in mental health crisis care.

The 988 hotline was first introduced in New Jersey in 2022 as part of a national effort to expand resident access to mental health services. Hotline usage has increased by almost 50% in two years, said Sen. Angela McKnight, a Jersey City Democrat cosponsoring the bill.

The Senate committee moved the measure forward by a vote of 5-to-2.