Public Safety - 9-1-1 Trust Fund - 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention Hotline

SB 36 amends Maryland law to allow the 9-1-1 Trust Fund to cover costs related to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline that are shared with 9-1-1 operations, such as software interfaces and joint staff training. Previously, the fund could not support any costs "solely" for the 9-8-8 hotline, but this bill removes that restriction. The change directly affects how the state allocates funds for public safety communications systems, enabling shared expenses between 9-1-1 services and the suicide hotline. The bill does not fund the hotline independently but permits cost-sharing for operational integration.