SB1922 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 11138 MJR 21505 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1922

Introduced 2/20/2009, by Sen. Susan Garrett

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.719 new

Creates the 2-1-1 Service Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Provides that "2-1-1" is created as the official State dialing code for public access to information and referral for health and human services and information about access to services after a natural or non-natural disaster. Contains provisions concerning the designation of a lead entity for 2-1-1. Contains provisions concerning the establishment or prohibition of new information services by specified parties. Contains provisions concerning 2-1-1 services, including the promotion of 2-1-1. Requires participants in 2-1-1 service to meet certain guidelines. Contains provisions concerning the liability of 2-1-1 providers. Amends the State Finance Act to create the 2-1-1 Account Fund in the State treasury to hold moneys from specified sources. Contains provisions concerning the use of moneys for projects and activities in support of 2-1-1-eligible activities. Provides that the lead entity shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly and the Illinois Commerce Commission beginning in calendar year 2010. Contains a severability clause.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning information referral.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 2-1-1 Service Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that the implementation of a single, easy to use telephone number, 2-1-1, for public access to information and referral for health and human services and information about access to services after a natural or non-natural disaster will benefit the citizens of this State by providing easier access to available health and human services, by reducing inefficiencies in connecting people with the desired service providers, and by reducing duplication of efforts.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.

"2-1-1" means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal Communications Commission on July 21, 2000, for consumer access to community information and referral services.

"Lead entity" means the non-profit or other organization to be designated by the Commission to manage use of the 2-1-1 dialing code for the purpose of providing the public access to information about health and human services.

"Approved 2-1-1 service provider" means a public or nonprofit agency or other organization designated by the lead entity to provide 2-1-1 services.

"2-1-1 service area" means an area of Illinois identified by the lead entity as an area within which a recognized 2-1-1 service provider is authorized to provide 2-1-1 services.

"2-1-1 services" means information and referral services provided through the use of 2-1-1 and intended to promote and provide access to human services, and to aid in disaster response and recovery.

"Recognized 2-1-1 service provider" means an organization recognized by the lead entity as an appropriate administrator and authorized user of the 2-1-1 dialing code in a 2-1-1 service area.

"Human services" means services provided by government, nonprofit, or faith-based organizations to ensure the health and well-being of Illinois residents. "Human services" includes services designed to provide relief or assistance after a natural or non-natural disaster.

Section 15. 2-1-1 System. "2-1-1" is created as the official State dialing code for public access to information and referral for health and human services and information about access to services after a natural or non-natural disaster.

Section 20. Designation of lead entity for 2-1-1.

(a) The Commission is authorized to identify and designate an independent lead entity to provide governance and oversight, including to study, design, implement, support, and coordinate a State-wide 2-1-1 system. The independent lead entity shall be a 501(c)(3) organization.

(b) Qualifications for designation of the lead entity shall include:

(1) a public or private governance structure with representation from State entity and non-governmental entity stakeholders with shared decision-making authority;

(2) demonstrated expertise or experience, or both, in planning for a State-wide information and referral system; and

(3) demonstrated support from community partners, including, but not limited to, existing information and referral services, United Ways, and the Illinois Association for Information and Referral.

(c) The lead entity shall encourage the orderly and efficient use of 2-1-1 to:

(1) provide access to human services; and

(2) collect needed information about human services and the delivery of human services in Illinois.

(d) The lead entity shall provide periodic reports on activities, accomplishments, and other issues to the Commission to ensure accountability and transparency.

Section 25. New information services. A State agency or department that provides human services may not establish a public telephone line or hotline to provide information or referrals unless the agency or department first consults with the lead entity and the recognized 2-1-1 service provider in the area to be served by the telephone line or hotline about using 2-1-1 to provide access to the information or referrals.

Section 30. 2-1-1 services. Only a service provider approved by the lead entity may provide 2-1-1 telephone services. The lead entity shall approve 2-1-1 service providers, after considering all of the following:

(1) the ability of the proposed 2-1-1 service provider to meet the national 2-1-1 standards recommended by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems;

(2) the financial stability and health of the proposed 2-1-1 service provider;

(3) the community support for the proposed 2-1-1 service provider;

(4) the relationships with other information and referral services; and

(5) any other criteria as the lead entity deems appropriate.

Section 35. Promotion of 2-1-1. A person or organization may not disseminate information to the public about the availability of 2-1-1 or 2-1-1 services in an area of the State except in accordance with rules established by the lead entity.

Section 40. Participation in 2-1-1. For the purpose of maintaining an accurate and current database necessary to provide 2-1-1 services, agencies and organizations receiving State funding to provide human services shall be required to submit updated information on their programs and services a minimum of one time per year to the recognized 2-1-1 service provider in the 2-1-1 service area where the agency or organization provides services, beginning one year after 2-1-1 service becomes available in an area where the human service agency provides services to the public.

Section 45. Liability of 2-1-1 providers. A recognized 2-1-1 service provider and its employees, directors, officers, and agents are not liable to any person in a civil action for injuries or loss to persons or property as a result of an act or omission of the recognized 2-1-1 service provider, or its employees, directors, officers, or agents, in connection with:

(1) developing, adopting, implementing, maintaining, or operating a 2-1-1 system;

(2) making 2-1-1 available for use by the public; or

(3) providing 2-1-1 services; except for injuries or loss resulting from the willful or wanton misconduct of the 2-1-1 service provider or its employees, directors, officers, or agents.

Section 50. 2-1-1 Account Fund. The 2-1-1 Account Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund may be spent only pursuant to appropriation to the Commission for grants to the lead entity to use pursuant to Section 55 of this Act. The 2-1-1 Account Fund consists of the following:

(1) Money appropriated to the Fund by the General Assembly.

(2) Funds received from the federal government for the support of 2-1-1 services in this State.

(3) Earnings attributable to money in the Fund.

(4) Money received from any other source for deposit into the Fund, including gifts and grants.

Section 55. Use of moneys for projects and activities in support of 2-1-1-eligible activities.

(a) The lead entity shall study, design, implement, support, coordinate, and evaluate a State-wide 2-1-1 system.

(b) Activities eligible for assistance from the 2-1-1 Account Fund include, but are not limited to:

(1) Creating a structure for a State-wide 2-1-1 resources database that will meet the Alliance for Information and Referral Systems standards for information and referral systems databases and that will be integrated with local resources databases maintained by approved 2-1-1 service providers.

(2) Developing a State-wide resources database for the 2-1-1 system.

(3) Maintaining public information available from State agencies, departments, and programs that provide health and human services for access by 2-1-1 service providers.

(4) Providing grants to approved 2-1-1 service providers to design, develop, and implement 2-1-1 for its 2-1-1 service area.

(5) Providing grants to approved 2-1-1 service providers to enable 2-1-1 service providers to provide and evaluate 2-1-1 service delivery on an ongoing basis.

(6) Providing grants to approved 2-1-1 service providers to enable the provision of 2-1-1 services on a 24-hours per-day, 7-days per-week basis.

Section 60. Annual reports. The lead entity shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly and the Commission beginning in calendar year 2010.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.719 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)

Sec. 5.719. The 2-1-1 Account Fund.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.