AB 1832: 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 states 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 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 Cal OES to support 2-1-1 providers in, create in the State Treasury the 2-1-1 Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require Cal OES to allocate moneys appropriated from the fund to the California 211 Providers Network to be used for, 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 providing annual reports to Cal OES, as specified. The bill would require Cal OES to annually communicate 2-1-1 system funding needs to the Department of Finance and the office of the Governor for consideration in state budget planning. The bill would create in the State Treasury the 2-1-1 Fund to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for these purposes.