BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1212| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bill No: SB 1212 Author: Hueso (D), et al. Amended: 8/15/16 Vote: 21 SENATE ENERGY, U. & C. COMMITTEE: 10-0, 4/19/16 AYES: Hueso, Cannella, Gaines, Hertzberg, Hill, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Pavley, Wolk NO VOTE RECORDED: Morrell SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-1, 5/27/16 AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen NOES: Bates SENATE FLOOR: 35-3, 5/31/16 AYES: Allen, Bates, Beall, Berryhill, Block, Cannella, De León, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hall, Hancock, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Lara, Leno, Leyva, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Pavley, Roth, Stone, Wieckowski, Wolk NOES: Anderson, Morrell, Vidak NO VOTE RECORDED: Moorlach, Runner ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 8/23/16 - See last page for vote SUBJECT: 2-1-1 information and referral network SOURCE: 2-1-1 California DIGEST: This bill authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expend up to $1.5 million from the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) Administrative Committee to help close telephone service gaps in counties lacking access to 2-1-1 referral service, including implementation of a SB 1212 Page 2 coordinated publicly owned database. Assembly Amendments are technical and clarify that the funding may be used for a coordinated database to provide referrals if the CPUC determines that doing so is an appropriate use of funds collected from ratepayers. 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 informational and referral (I&R) 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 origination services at reasonable rates in those territories that will be served by 2-1-1 (Federal Communications Commission N11 Third Report and Order) 4)Establishes the CTF and CTF Administrative Committee which is a program to an advisory board to advise the CPUC regarding the deployment, implementation, and administration of a program to advance universal service by providing discounted rates to qualifying schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, community colleges, libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and community organizations. (Public Utilities Code §280) This bill: SB 1212 Page 3 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 referral providers 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 up to $1.5 million from the CTF Administrative Committee for one-time costs to help close 2-1-1 service gaps in counties lacking access, where technically feasible, through available 2-1-1 service, if the CPUC determines that doing so is an appropriate use of funds collected from ratepayers 4)Authorizes 2-1-1 California to apply to the CPUC for use of the funds in the counties that lack 2-1-1 service which may include local implementation of a coordinated database that is owned by a city or county, if the CPUC determines that doing so is an appropriate use of funds collected from ratepayers. 5)States this subdivision is inoperative on January 1, 2023. 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 I&R providers. The FCC noted in its N11 Third Report and Order that the assignment of the 2-1-1 code to I&R providers satisfies the public interest standards for assignments of N11 codes, and recognizes 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 SB 1212 Page 4 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 I&R 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 Web sites across the state. 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 SB 1212 Page 5 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. I&R 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 I&R 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. California Teleconnect Fund Administrative Committee. The CTF is a program to advance universal service by providing discounted rates to qualifying schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, community colleges, libraries, hospitals, health clinics, and community organizations. The program is funded by a surcharge assessed on revenues collected from endusers for intrastate telecommunications services subject to surcharge. The current surcharge rate is 1.080 percent. According to the CPUC, the CTF Administrative Committee is required to submit a proposed budget to the CPUC on or before June 1 of each year. The CTF Administrative Committee submitted a letter, dated August 10, 2015, to the CPUC's Executive Director seeking approval of a proposed budget for the program of $117,915,000 for FY 2016-17. It's unclear whether the use of this or any other ratepayer fund is appropriate to fund the 2-1-1 program. This bill. This bill authorizes the CPUC, if it determines that SB 1212 Page 6 doing so is in an appropriate use of funds collected from ratepayers, to expend up to $1.5 million from the CTF Administrative Committee Fund to help close 2-1-1 service gaps in counties lacking access to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery information and referral services, where technically feasible, through available 2-1-1 services. 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 covered counties have largely utilized local resources and contributions from charitable organizations and individuals, the CPUC may want to ensure the counties served by this funding have made reasonable efforts to secure local and other funding. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.:YesLocal: No According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee: Up to $1.5 million (CTF Administrative Committee Fund), over five years, to assist California 2-1-1 with efforts to close service gaps. The CPUC indicates they do not have prior expertise with funding third party entities and would need to develop a new administrative process to administer these funds. The CPUC estimates annual administrative costs of approximately $131,000 to fund one position to administer the program. SUPPORT: (Verified8/23/16) 2-1-1 California (source) 2-1-1 Nevada County 2-1-1 Orange County Advancement Project American Red Cross California Emergency Services Association California State Association of Counties Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County Contra Costa Crisis Center Corona-Norco United Way Eden I&R/2-1-1 Alameda County SB 1212 Page 7 First 5 Humboldt Humboldt County Humboldt County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers Los Angeles County, Chief Executive Office, Office of Emergency Management Orange County United Way Riverside University Health System-Behavioral Health Prevention Early Intervention Rural County Representatives of California Sacramento Region Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster San Bernardino County Supervisor Greg Cox, San Diego County United Way of San Diego County United Way of San Luis Obispo County United Ways of California Ventura County Board of Supervisors Yolo County One Individual OPPOSITION: (Verified8/23/16) 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." ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 8/23/16 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, SB 1212 Page 8 Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon NO VOTE RECORDED: Beth Gaines Prepared by:Nidia Bautista / E., U., & C. / (916) 651-4107 8/23/16 19:54:36 **** END ****