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

HB 421 amends Maryland's 9-1-1 Trust Fund rules to allow using fund money for costs related to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline that overlap with 9-1-1 operations (like shared software interfaces and joint training). Previously, the fund could not cover *any* costs associated with the 9-8-8 hotline, but this bill removes that blanket prohibition. The change specifically permits funding for "costs related to the operation of the 9-8-8 hotline that may be shared with 9-1-1 activities," while still prohibiting funds from covering costs that *solely* support the hotline. This affects how the 9-1-1 Trust Fund is allocated and used by state and local agencies managing emergency communications systems.