Official Summary Text
AB 1832, as amended, Ransom.
2-1-1 information and referral response system.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, creates, within the office of the Governor, the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services. Under existing law, Cal OES is responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or man-made disasters and emergencies, including responsibility for activities necessary to prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters to people and property, as provided.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires local public agencies to establish a
“9-1-1” emergency telephone number, as specified. Existing law also authorizes a local public agency to establish a nonemergency “3-1-1” telephone system. Under existing federal law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated “2-1-1” to be the national abbreviated dialing code to provide access to nonemergency community information and referral services. Pursuant to authority delegated by the FCC to state regulatory bodies and its existing statutory authority, the PUC has established procedures for implementing 2-1-1 dialing in California.
This bill would require
the PUC
Cal OES
to convene state emergency planning agencies and the 2-1-1 lead entity appointed by the PUC to establish communication channels between state emergency planning agencies, the 2-1-1 lead
entity, and 2-1-1 providers and to integrate 2-1-1 into the state emergency planning and emergency communications processes, as provided. The bill would require
the PUC
Cal OES
to support 2-1-1 providers in, among other things, enhancing critical 2-1-1 system capacity and service quality through core operating support, providing equitable access to 2-1-1 dialing and services, publishing a statewide 2-1-1 community needs data dashboard for use by state agencies, developing aligned systems and protocols with 9-1-1 and 9-8-8, and implementing the duties of the 2-1-1 lead entity, as provided. The bill would require the 2-1-1
lead
entity to conduct statewide 2-1-1 system activities, provide funding, if available, to local 2-1-1 providers, and provide annual reports to
the PUC,
Cal OES,
as specified. The bill would require
the PUC
Cal OES
to annually communicate 2-1-1 system funding needs to the Department of Finance and
Governor’s office
the office of the Governor
for consideration in state budget planning.
The bill would require the PUC to convene relevant state agencies, utilities, advocates, and persons involved in th 2-1-1 system to, among other things, evaluate current utility financial assistance, savings, and discount program awareness, referral practices, and outcomes, as provided.
The bill would create in the State Treasury the 2-1-1 Fund to be
used for purposes of these provisions.
used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for these purposes.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.