BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS
Senator Ben Hueso, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 1212 Hearing Date: 4/19/2016
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|Author: |Hueso |
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|Version: |4/12/2016 As Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Nidia Bautista |
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SUBJECT: "2-1-1" information and referral network
DIGEST: This bill would state it is the intent of the
Legislature to facilitate the expansion of 2-1-1 informational
and referral services (I&R) into those counties in California
where they are lacking and support a comprehensive statewide
database that will connect all callers to I&R services. This
bill would authorize moneys appropriated to the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) to be expended to help close
telephone service gaps in counties lacking access to 2-1-1
referral service.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Provides that the CPUC may supervise and regulate every public
utility in the State and may do all things, whether
specifically designated in this part or in addition thereto,
which are necessary and convenient in the exercise of such
power and jurisdiction. (Public Utilities Code §701)
2)Establishes procedures for implementing 2-1-1 dialing in
California. (CPUC D. 03-02-029, February 13, 2003)
3)Assigns 2-1-1 as a national abbreviated dialing code to be used
for access to community information and referral services.
Delegates to state commissions, including the CPUC, the
authority to certify information and referral providers that
will enable them to receive calls from those who dial 2-1-1.
Requires all local exchange carriers to provide 2-1-1 call
SB 1212 (Hueso) Page 2 of ?
origination services at reasonable rates in those territories
that will be served by 2-1-1 (Federal Communications Commission
N11 Third Report and Order)
This bill:
1)States the intent of the Legislature to facilitate the
expansion of 2-1-1 telephone services into those counties in
California where they are lacking and to support a
comprehensive statewide database that will connect all callers
to the information and referrals they need.
2)States the intent of the Legislature to facilitate access to
disaster preparedness, response, and recovery information, and
referral services, uniformly in the state, especially in
hard-to-serve rural areas, though a universally available 2-1-1
telephone service.
3)Authorizes the CPUC to expend moneys appropriated to it to help
close telephone service gaps in counties lacking access to
disaster preparedness, response, and recovery information, and
referral services, through a universally available,
high-quality basic 2-1-1 telephone service to all residents of
California regardless of region.
4)Authorizes the CPUC to use moneys appropriated to it to fund
and improve a coordinated, publicly owned database to provide
regional referrals to help with all aspects of disaster
planning, recovery, and response.
Background
N11 Codes. Under its authority over the North American Numbering
Plan, the FCC establishes several abbreviated dialing codes,
including designating three digit numbers such as 9-1-1 for
emergency services. On July 31, 2000, the FCC issued its N11
Third Report and Order assigning the 2-1-1 dialing code as a
national abbreviated dialing code to be used for access to
community information and referral providers. The FCC noted in
its N11 Third Report and Order that the assignment of the 2-1-1
code to information and referral providers satisfies the public
interest standards for assignments of N11 codes, and recognizes
SB 1212 (Hueso) Page 3 of ?
that a great public need can be met through the implementation of
a 2-1-1 dialing program. The FCC noted that the use of the 2-1-1
dialing code has the potential to provide Californians with easy
access to information concerning child care services, housing
assistance, physical and mental health resources, aging and
hospice services, educational and other programs. Such
information is not currently available through the 9-1-1
emergency code or the 3-1-1 police non-emergency code, two
previously authorized N11 codes.
About 2-1-1 services. 2-1-1 is the free telephone number by
which Californians can obtain information and referral to health
and human service programs. Generally,
2-1-1 provides telephone and web services that promote public
safety during non-emergency situations. During emergency or
disaster situations, 2-1-1 provides critical public information,
such as information on shelters, food distribution, evacuations,
road closures and transportation issues, utility outages, school
closures, medical and housing assistance, government aid,
mitigation and repairs, such as sand bags, emergency alerts, such
as riots and looting, as well as public health warnings.
Additionally, 2-1-1 service providers offer contact information
and access to many local, state and national hotlines, including
poison control, suicide, child abuse, adult abuse, teen
bullying/cyber-bullying and other crises, domestic violence,
veteran issues, immediate shelter, food and health needs, and
many other social services that are not currently addressed by
either 9-1-1 or 3-1-1 services.
2-1-1 use in California. In 2014, over 1.7 million Californians
called 2-1-1 for help finding needed community services such as
rent and mortgage assistance, food and shelter, healthcare, job
training, transportation, childcare, and senior care. For
example, 2-1-1 services have been important gateways for
enrolling low- and moderate-income families in health insurance
programs, including Healthy Families and county-based Children's
Health Initiatives. In the same year, over 1 million unique hits
were tracked on 211 websites across the state.
SB 1212 (Hueso) Page 4 of ?
2-1-1 also plays a critical role in providing information and
support in times of disaster, such as evacuation, shelter, food,
medical and recovery information, and providing public officials
with feedback from callers about changing conditions. For
example, in 2007 during the San Diego wild fires local 2-1-1s
handled 130,000 calls in five days.
CPUC role. The CPUC authorizes one qualifying local agency in a
county the use of the 2-1-1 dial code. This designation allows
the lead agency to provide the 2-1-1 referral services for the
county. Information and referral centers seeking to utilize the
2-1-1 dial code must apply directly to the CPUC for rights to use
this special three digit dialing code. The CPUC has approved
2-1-1 services in 37 counties serving approximately 95 percent of
California's population (noted on the following map). Most of
these counties have funded their 2-1-1 services via partnerships
between local health and human services agencies and nonprofits.
For example, Sacramento County notes its program is funded by
First 5 Sacramento Commission, Sacramento County Office of
Emergency Services, Agency on Aging, Goodwill Industries of
Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada, Sacramento Superior Court,
Kaiser and contributions from the community.
Some counties are left out. While most counties have 2-1-1
information and referral providers, 21 counties currently lack
the service. Specifically, the following 10 counties are
currently developing their 2-1-1 service: Colusa, El Dorado,
Glenn, Lassen, Mono, Plumas, Placer, Siskiyou, Sutter, and Yuba.
Another 11 counties lack the service and do not have programs in
development: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Del Norte, Inyo, Lake,
Madera, Modoc, Sierra, Trinity, and Tuolumne.
Funding source not identified. This bill currently authorizes
the CPUC to utilize moneys appropriated to it to fund 2-1-1
service in the counties that currently lack the service. The
sponsor of this bill states the additional costs for both the
expanded service and the coordinated statewide referral database
may be about one million dollars. Since all the currently
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covered counties have largely utilized local resources and
contributions from charitable organizations and individuals, the
CPUC may want to ensure the counties have made reasonable efforts
to secure local and other funding. Most of the CPUC funds are
rate-payer based whose use is directed for specific purposes,
such as the Universal Lifeline Program which is already
well-subscribed and has grown in use with the expansion of the
service to cell phone providers. The author and committee may
wish to require that use of ratepayer funds shall only be used if
it determined to be an appropriate use of those funds.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.:
Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
2-1-1 California (Source)
2-1-1 Nevada County
Contra Costa Crisis Center
Eden I&R/2-1-1, Alameda County
Rural County Representatives of California
United Ways of California
United Ways of San Diego County
Ventura County Board of Supervisors
Yolo County
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states: "SB 1212 will take the
next step in developing a statewide 2-1-1 disaster response
network and close the gap in 211 coverage to provide access for
rural areas in California that do not currently have 211 service.
It will make eligible the 2-1-1 network for state funding. This
bill will lay the groundwork for statewide coordination and
funding to ensure all residents of California can access this
critical service regardless of the region from which they are
calling."
SB 1212 (Hueso) Page 6 of ?
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