The law required expanded mental health services through the state’s suicide hotline number 988 – an alternative to 911 meant to divert mental health victims away from law enforcement. Currently, if you dial 988 you’ll reach a crisis center where workers are trained to support and de-escalate. Many people in a mental health crisis still call 911 or have 911 called on them. “If we think about even 1% of those callers really being better served transitioning to a 988 center, we're talking about 260,000. Since the start of the project to May 2026, Cal OES says it's spent a total of $24.5 million on the project.