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Bill to create Michigan mental health hotline nears final OK

Posted at 1:14 PM, Jan 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-14 13:58:25-05

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is poised to create a permanent statewide mental health hotline under legislation that soon will go to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The Legislature is scheduled to take a final vote on the bill Tuesday. The telephone referral system would be available 24 hours a day, seven days of week and would refer people experiencing a mental health crisis to service providers.

A spending law approved in 2018 included $3 million to develop, operate and maintain a hotline pilot program. The new legislation is intended as a way to expand that program statewide.