Senate Bill 2499

AN ACT TO CREATE A 211 PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD TO INSURE PROPER PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF A STATEWIDE 211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM; TO DEFINE THE TERM "211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM" AS A SYSTEM BY WHICH A PERSON MAY BE CONNECTED TO AN OPERATOR WHO CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS WITHIN A SPECIFIC REGION; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER IN REGARD TO THE PLANNING OF THE SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SERVICES OFFERED BY THE SYSTEM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to them:

(a) "Basic system" means a telephone service which automatically connects a person dialing the digits 211 to an established information and referral answering point through normal telephone service facilities.

(b) "Board" means the 211 Planning Advisory Board provided for in this act.

(d) "Community service programs" include, but are not limited to, housing assistance, utility bill payments assistance programs, food pantries, counseling, legal aid, hospice services, services for the aged, substance abuse programs, physical abuse programs, sexual abuse programs and hurricane and terrorism emergency response.

(e) "211 information and referral telephone system" means a system by which a person may dial the digits 211 and be connected to an operator who can answer questions related to community service programs within a specific region.

(f) "Public agency" or "private organizations" means any federal, state or local agency, political subdivision of the state, or private organization which provides or has authority to provide human services for personal, family or financial problems.

SECTION 2. (1) In order to insure proper planning, implementation and operation of a statewide system, the 211 Planning Advisory Board is hereby created to consider and make recommendations concerning such planning, implementation and operation of the statewide system and then submit to the commission technical conference for its consideration.

(2) The board shall be composed of one (1) designee from each of the following organizations or state agencies:

(a) Governor's Office of Community Programs.

(b) Mississippi Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.

(d) Mississippi Association of United Way.

(e) Mississippi Association of Volunteer Center Directors.

(f) Mississippi Department of Health.

(g) Mississippi Public Service Commission.

(h) Mississippi Energy Management Agency.

(i) Mississippi Department of Social Service.

(j) Mississippi Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officers.

(k) Mississippi Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association.

(3) The members of the board shall serve without additional compensation.

(4) The board shall be co-chaired by the designees of the Mississippi Association of United Way and the Mississippi Alliance of Information and Referral Systems. Six (6) members of the board shall be considered a quorum, and the board may take official action upon the affirmative vote of six (6) members.

SECTION 3. (1) The Mississippi Public Service Commission is hereby authorized to:

(a) (i) Direct the staff of the commission to conduct a technical conference on the subject of establishing a statewide 211 information and referral system.

(ii) At the technical conference the board shall advise the commission on the need for a statewide 211 information and referral system, procedures for implementing and managing the system and the costs associated with providing the service.

(iii) Upon completion of the technical conference, a staff report and recommendation shall be submitted to the commission for consideration.

(b) Issue a finding in the form of a resolution relative to the establishment of a statewide 211 information and referral telephone system.

(c) Propose legislation detailing the establishment of a statewide 211 information and referral system to the Legislature.

(2) Upon adoption of a legislative act establishing a statewide 211 information and referral system and establishing a funding mechanism, the 211 Planning Advisory Board shall be abolished and the commission shall appoint and establish a board charged with overseeing the operations of statewide 211 services.

SECTION 4. (1) The system shall be composed of people to answer calls to the 211 number who are knowledgeable about the available human service resources in the state and who can offer intervention, advice and guidance when citizens have personal, family or financial problems which are not public health or safety emergencies of the kind for which the 911 emergency number is provided.

(2) The digits 211 shall be the primary information and referral telephone number within the system, but a separate number for nonemergency telephone calls may be maintained.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.