§ 35-25-506 — 988 system trust fund; reserve account spending policy

(a) The 988 system trust fund account is created. The
trust account shall consist of those funds designated to the
account by law and all monies collected from federal grants and
other appropriations, contributions, grants, gifts, bequests and
donations to the trust fund account. The trust fund account is
specifically empowered to accept grants, gifts, transfers,
bequests and donations. Funds deposited within the trust fund
account are intended to be inviolate and constitute a permanent
and perpetual trust fund which shall be invested by the state
treasurer as authorized by law and in a manner to obtain the
highest return possible consistent with preservation of the
trust account corpus.
(b) During each fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, the
earnings from the 988 system trust fund account are appropriated
to the department for expenditure as provided in subsection (d)
of this section in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the
previous five (5) year average market value of the 988 system
trust fund account, calculated from the first day of the fiscal
year. For purposes of making the calculation under this
subsection, until the 988 system trust fund account has existed
for five (5) years, the average market value of the trust fund
shall be the average market value during the years that the
trust fund has existed. The calculation required by this
subsection shall constitute the spending policy for the 988
system trust fund account.
(c) Earnings from the 988 system trust fund account in
excess of the spending policy amount established by subsection
(b) of this section in any fiscal year shall be deposited by the
state treasurer to the 988 system trust fund reserve account,
which is hereby created. Except for monies appropriated to the
department and monies deposited back to the 988 system trust
fund pursuant to this subsection, funds deposited in the reserve
account are intended to be inviolate and constitute a permanent
and perpetual trust fund which shall be invested by the state
treasurer as authorized by law. Interest and other earnings on
funds within the reserve account shall be credited to the
reserve account. Beginning July 1, 2024 for fiscal year 2023 and
each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall transfer
unobligated funds from the reserve account to the 988 system
trust fund account as necessary to ensure that an amount equal
to the spending policy amount established in subsection (b) of
this section is available to the department, pursuant to
subsection (b) of this section, for expenditure during the
fiscal year. As soon as possible after the end of each fiscal
year, revenues in this account in excess of four hundred twenty
percent (420%) of the spending policy amount in subsection (b)
of this section shall be credited to the 988 system trust fund
account.
(d) Funds available to the department shall be prioritized
to the extent practicable to first fund those services
representing the best evidence-based practices for the
prevention of suicide, which may include the following:
(i) Creating and maintaining a statewide 988 system
pursuant to this article and in accordance with the National
Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the federal
communication commission's rules adopted July 16, 2020 and in
accordance with national guidelines for crisis care;
(ii) Supporting or enhancing the 988 system including
providing for state designated crisis centers as provided in
W.S. 35-25-502, providing for mobile crisis teams as provided in
W.S. 35-25-503 and providing payment for crisis services as
provided in W.S. 35-25-504;
(iii) Taking other actions necessary related to the
administration of the 988 system as provided by this article;
(iv) Providing other goods or services, including
health care services, that do not infringe on fundamental
individual liberties and that, according to best evidence-based
practices, are likely to lead to the prevention of suicide.