WHEREAS, 2-1-1 is a trusted information and referral service that provides individuals across the state with connections to community, health, and disaster-related services. By dialing an easy to remember three digit code, known as 2-1-1, Californians can speak with highly trained staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and receive real-time assistance in over 150 languages; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service is operated by 26 local nonprofit organizations serving the entire state, is available through phone, SMS texting, and the internet, and is tailored to provide people of all income levels, languages, and cultural backgrounds with unique resources specific to their concerns and geographic location; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service consistently assists with identifying emerging needs and can relay valuable insights to public officials at local, regional, and state levels; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service provides emergency operation resources during times of natural and other disasters, including providing accurate and timely information for preparations and long-term referrals for followup services, as evidenced by its role in supporting the Office of Emergency Services during annual wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, During difficult times and through the COVID-19 pandemic, 2-1-1 providers took on the challenge of providing additional resources, answering over 2,000,000 phone calls, making over 2,150,000 referrals in 2022, and averaging well over 11,000 inquiries from Californians in need every single day of the year; and

WHEREAS, Since 2006, 2-1-1 call specialists have assisted with more than 2,000,000 requests to locate community, health, and disaster-related services; and

WHEREAS, During uncertain economic times, the demand for rapid response assistance and complex case management increases significantly. In many cases, individuals and families who have never had to navigate health and social services find themselves lost and struggling through the systems of care; and

WHEREAS, 2-1-1 providers across the state demonstrated their capabilities as experienced responders able to scale their infrastructure and offer new services quickly, including addressing rising food insecurity and assisting people for whom online forms presented language, digital, or internet accessibility challenges; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate hereby proclaims the month of February 2024 as 2-1-1 Month and the day of February 11, 2024 as 2-1-1 Day to promote and strengthen the 2-1-1 service in providing Californians free and confidential referrals to needed resources; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate commits to support the 2-1-1 service and infrastructure so that all Californians have equitable access to this critical service that provides resource connections regarding support for poverty, housing, family and children, aging and disability, health equity, and disasters; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate encourages all Californians to be aware of the 2-1-1 service and look up their local 2-1-1 service provider on the internet at 211.org; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, 2-1-1 is a trusted information and referral service that provides individuals across the state with connections to community, health, and disaster-related services. By dialing an easy to remember three digit code, known as 2-1-1, Californians can speak with highly trained staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and receive real-time assistance in over 150 languages; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service is operated by 26 local nonprofit organizations serving the entire state, is available through phone, SMS texting, and the internet, and is tailored to provide people of all income levels, languages, and cultural backgrounds with unique resources specific to their concerns and geographic location; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service consistently assists with identifying emerging needs and can relay valuable insights to public officials at local, regional, and state levels; and

WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 service provides emergency operation resources during times of natural and other disasters, including providing accurate and timely information for preparations and long-term referrals for followup services, as evidenced by its role in supporting the Office of Emergency Services during annual wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, During difficult times and through the COVID-19 pandemic, 2-1-1 providers took on the challenge of providing additional resources, answering over 2,000,000 phone calls, making over 2,150,000 referrals in 2022, and averaging well over 11,000 inquiries from Californians in need every single day of the year; and

WHEREAS, Since 2006, 2-1-1 call specialists have assisted with more than ____ requests to locate community, health, and disaster-related services; and

WHEREAS, During uncertain economic times, the demand for rapid response assistance and complex case management increases significantly. In many cases, individuals and families who have never had to navigate health and social services find themselves lost and struggling through the systems of care; and

WHEREAS, 2-1-1 providers across the state demonstrated their capabilities as experienced responders able to scale their infrastructure and offer new services quickly, including addressing rising food insecurity and assisting people for whom online forms presented language, digital, or internet accessibility challenges; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate hereby proclaims the month of February 2024 as 2-1-1 Month and the day of February 11, 2024 as 2-1-1 Day to promote and strengthen the 2-1-1 service in providing Californians free and confidential referrals to needed resources; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate commits to support the 2-1-1 service and infrastructure so that all Californians have equitable access to this critical service that provides resource connections regarding support for poverty, housing, family and children, aging and disability, health equity, and disasters; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate encourages all Californians to be aware of the 2-1-1 service and look up their local 2-1-1 service provider on the internet at 211.org; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: SR 66

Author: Newman (D), et al.

Introduced: 2/14/24

Vote: Majority

SUBJECT: “2-1-1” information and referral service

SOURCE: 211 California

Orange County United Way

United Ways of California

DIGEST:

This resolution (1) proclaims the month of February 2024 as 2-1-1 Month and the day of February 11, 2024 as 2-1-1 Day to promote and strengthen the 2-1-1 service in providing Californians free and confidential referrals to needed resources; (2) commits to support the 2-1-1 service and infrastructure so that all Californians have equitable access to this critical service that provides resource connections regarding support for poverty, housing, family and children, aging and disability, health equity, and disasters; and (3) encourages all Californians to be aware of the 2-1-1 service and look up their local 2-1-1 service provider on the internet at 211.org.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. 2-1-1 is a trusted information and referral service that provides individuals across the state with connections to community, health, and disaster-related services. By dialing an easy to remember three digit code, known as 2-1-1, Californians can speak with highly trained staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and receive real-time assistance in over 150 languages.
2. The 2-1-1 service is operated by 26 local nonprofit organizations serving the entire state, is available through phone, SMS texting, and the internet, and is tailored to provide people of all income levels, languages, and cultural backgrounds with unique resources specific to their concerns and geographic location.
3. The 2-1-1 service consistently assists with identifying emerging needs and can relay valuable insights to public officials at local, regional, and state levels.
4. The 2-1-1 service provides emergency operation resources during times of natural and other disasters, including providing accurate and timely information for preparations and long-term referrals for followup services, as evidenced by its role in supporting the Office of Emergency Services during annual wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters.
5. During difficult times and through the COVID-19 pandemic, 2-1-1 providers took on the challenge of providing additional resources, answering over 2,000,000 phone calls, making over 2,150,000 referrals in 2022, and averaging well over 11,000 inquiries from Californians in need every single day of the year.
6. During uncertain economic times, the demand for rapid response assistance and complex case management increases significantly. In many cases, individuals and families who have never had to navigate health and social services find themselves lost and struggling through the systems of care.
7. 2-1-1 providers across the state demonstrated their capabilities as experienced responders able to scale their infrastructure and offer new services quickly, including addressing rising food insecurity and assisting people for whom online forms presented language, digital, or internet accessibility challenges.

This resolution:

1. Proclaims the month of February 2024 as 2-1-1 Month and the day of February 11, 2024 as 2-1-1 Day to promote and strengthen the 2-1-1 service in providing Californians free and confidential referrals to needed resources.
2. Commits to support the 2-1-1 service and infrastructure so that all Californians have equitable access to this critical service that provides resource connections regarding support for poverty, housing, family and children, aging and disability, health equity, and disasters.
3. Encourages all Californians to be aware of the 2-1-1 service and look up their local 2-1-1 service provider on the internet at 211.org.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 2/16/24)

211 California (co-source)

Orange County United Way (co-source)

United Ways of California (co-source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 2/16/24)

None received

Prepared by: Russell Manning / SFA / (916) 651-1520

2/20/24 9:50:00

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