CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: August 01, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: APPROVE LETTER SUPPORTING AB 988 (BAUER-KAHAN) THE
MILES HALL LIFELINE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT
SYNOPSIS
The City Council received a request from the Miles Hall Foundation to send a letter in support of Assembly Bill 988 (Bauer-Kahan) – The Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, the California bill to provide funding to support around the clock non-police crisis intervention. Staff recommends that the City Council direct the City Clerk to send the proposed letter of support to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Mayor and Council sent several letters of support for Assembly Bill 988 (Bauer-Kahan), known as The Miles Hall Lifeline Act, in 2021. The 988 Crisis Hotline was officially launched nationwide on July 16, 2022. Assembly Bill 988 (“AB 988”), which would provide funding to support around the clock non-police crisis intervention, has not yet passed. The 9-8-8 number provides call and text services for people in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors, but does not provide mobile mental health non-police crisis services.
Analysis
AB 988, would significantly enhance the new 9-8-8 call number. Callers would be connected with around-the-clock intervention, including mobile crisis teams staffed by trained mental health professionals and trained peers instead of law enforcement. The bill would also fund interoperability between 9-8-8 and 9-1-1, allowing calls to be transferred between the two so that the most appropriate services can be provided for mental health emergencies.
The City of Pleasant Hill is supportive of AB 988 and additional measures to address the unmet behavioral health needs in Contra Costa County. The City’s support is evidenced by Police Department staff participation in A3 workstreams to provide these much-needed services to “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.”
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City to send a letter of opposition.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Library, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Send the proposed letter of opposition to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
Do not send a letter of opposition.
Give direction to staff to amend the letter of opposition.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Letter of Support
Text of AB 988
Correspondence
Prepared by: Danielle K. Habr, Principal Management Analyst/City Clerk Reviewed by: Bryan Hill, Chief of Police
Approved by: June Catalano, City Manager