HARRISBURG – The Senate Transportation Committee advanced a measure that will create a specialty license plate to support mental health funding, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).
“When Matt Dorgan shared with me the tragic passing of his daughter and his ongoing effort to raise awareness and funding for better mental health support in Pennsylvania, we were able to find a way to address an issue that impacts approximately 20% of our population,” Phillips-Hill said.
Matt Dorgan lost his daughter, Brianna, to suicide in 2020. Since the tragedy, he founded Building Bridges for Brianna, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting suicide awareness and prevention, funding suicide awareness and prevention programs, supporting those in need dealing with mental health challenges, and support for programs for families who have members dealing with mental health issues.
Under Senate Bill 955, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation would create a new specialty license plate, with $15 from every plate deposited into the Mental Health Restricted Account, which would provide funding to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Pennsylvania.
“This license plate is another way we can remove the stigma of mental health challenges that many in our community face, while providing resources to a valuable asset that assists thousands of Pennsylvanians each year,” Phillips-Hill added.
Individuals experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or simply in need of someone to talk to can call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.