H.R. 498 – Reading Mode

IIB

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 498

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 6, 2024

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

AN ACT

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

Short title

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

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—

(1)

in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(6)

taking such steps as may be necessary to ensure the suicide prevention hotline is protected from cybersecurity incidents and to eliminate known cybersecurity vulnerabilities of such hotline.

(b)

Reporting

Section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

(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 vulnerability to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such a vulnerability; and

(ii)

any identified cybersecurity incident to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such an incident.

(B)

Local and regional crisis centers

Local and regional crisis centers participating in the program shall report to the program’s network administrator receiving Federal funding pursuant to subsection (a), in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws—

(i)

any identified cybersecurity vulnerability to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such a vulnerability; and

(ii)

any identified cybersecurity incident to the program within a reasonable amount of time after identification of such an 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)

Local and regional crisis center

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)

Network administrator

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.

(c)

Study

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(1)

conduct and complete a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the 9–8–8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and

(2)

submit a report of the findings of such study to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives March 5, 2024.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.