This bill would add a new Title V to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to create a national hotline for caregivers of people with developmental disabilities. The Secretary would either run the hotline directly or fund a nonprofit to run it. The hotline must be toll-free, operate 24/7 in real time, and support both voice and text. Staff must get standardized training in caregiver support, crisis response, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services. The hotline must include peer-to-peer staff, offer referrals to local, State, and Federal resources (for example crisis support, adult services, transition programs, and in-home supports), and keep a national database of services and supports. The bill requires consultation with the RAISE Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council, a public awareness campaign with a website and materials, and annual reports to Congress starting within one year. It gives priority for grants or contracts to entities partnered with community-based organizations and defines eligible entities as nonprofits with national reach and experience navigating State systems. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032. The bill was introduced April 30, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
If enacted and funded, caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities would have access to a toll-free, 24/7 hotline for emotional support, brief intervention, information, and referrals. Nonprofit organizations with national capacity could be eligible to run the hotline under grant or contract. States and local service providers could receive referrals from the hotline.
The bill authorizes appropriations of $10,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032 to carry out the hotline. No publicly available information on estimated total costs beyond this authorization or on actual appropriations and spending is in the bill text or provided metadata.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.