H.R. 912

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Obernolte · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 912
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Protecting suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the 9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act.

SEC. 2. Protecting suicide prevention lifeline from cybersecurity incidents

• (a) National suicide prevention lifeline program
  • Section 520E–3(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c(b)) is amended—
    • in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end;
    • in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
      • taking such steps as may be necessary to ensure the suicide prevention hotline is protected from cybersecurity incidents and eliminates known cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
    • by adding at the end the following:
• (b) Reporting
  • Section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c
    • by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
      • (f) Cybersecurity reporting
        • (1) Notification
          • (A) In general
            • The program’s network administrator receiving Federal funding pursuant to subsection (a) shall report to the Assistant Secretary, in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws—
              • (i) any identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such a vulnerability; and
              • (ii) any identified cybersecurity incidents to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such incident.
          • (B) Local and regional crisis centers
            • Local and regional crisis centers participating in the program shall report to the program’s network administrator identified under subparagraph (A), in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws—
              • (i) any identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such vulnerability; and
              • (ii) any identified cybersecurity incidents to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such incident.
        • (2) Notification
          • If the program’s network administrator receiving funding pursuant to subsection (a) discovers, or is informed by a local or regional crisis center pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) of, a cybersecurity vulnerability or incident, within a reasonable amount of time after such discovery or receipt of information, such entity shall report the vulnerability or incident to the Assistant Secretary.
        • (3) Clarification
          • (A) Oversight
            • (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), local and regional crisis centers participating in the program shall oversee all technology each center employs in the provision of services as a participant in the program.
            • (ii) The program’s network administrator receiving Federal funding pursuant to subsection (a) shall oversee the technology each crisis center employs in the provision of services as a participant in the program if such oversight responsibilities are established in the applicable network participation agreement.
          • (B) Supplement, not supplant
            • The cybersecurity incident reporting requirements under this subsection shall supplement, and not supplant, cybersecurity incident reporting requirements under other provisions of applicable Federal law that are in effect on the date of the enactment of the 9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act.
    • by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
• (c) Study
  • Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
    • conduct and complete a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the 9–8–8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and
    • submit a report on the findings of such study to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.