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First Substitute S.B. 56

Senator Todd Weiler proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
UTAH 211 REFERRAL INFORMATION NETWORK

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             5     
House Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill creates the Utah 211 Referral Information Network.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    requires the Department of Human Services to designate an approved 211 service
             14      provider;
             15          .    outlines the duties of the approved 211 service provider;
             16          .    requires state and local governments to provide the approved 211 service provider
             17      with information about health and human services available throughout the state;
             18          .    permits state and local governments to contract with the approved 211 service
             19      provider for specialized projects; and
             20          .    grants the approved 211 service provider, its employees, directors, officers, and
             21      information specialists immunity from civil suit, except in cases of willful or
             22      wanton misconduct.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:


             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             28      ENACTS:
             29          62A-17-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          62A-17-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          62A-17-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          62A-17-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          62A-17-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          62A-17-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 62A-17-101 is enacted to read:
             38     
CHAPTER 17. UTAH REFERRAL INFORMATION NETWORK

             39          62A-17-101. Title.
             40          This chapter is known as "Utah Referral Information Network."
             41          Section 2. Section 62A-17-102 is enacted to read:
             42          62A-17-102. Definitions.
             43          As used in this chapter:
             44          (1) "211" means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal Communications
             45      Commission for consumer access to community information and referral services.
             46          (2) "Approved 211 service provider" means a public or nonprofit agency or
             47      organization designated by the department to provide 211 services.
             48          (3) (a) "Utah 211" means an information and referral system that:
             49          (i) maintains a database of:
             50          (A) providers of health and human services; and
             51          (B) volunteer opportunities and coordinators throughout the state;
             52          (ii) assists individuals, families, and communities at no cost in identifying,
             53      understanding, and accessing the providers of health and human services; and
             54          (iii) works collaboratively with state agencies, local governments, community-based
             55      organizations, not-for-profit organizations, organizations active in disaster relief, and
             56      faith-based organizations.


             57          (b) "Utah 211" does not mean service provided by 911 and first responders.
             58          Section 3. Section 62A-17-103 is enacted to read:
             59          62A-17-103. Designated approved 211 service provider -- Department
             60      responsibilities.
             61          (1) The department shall designate an approved 211 service provider to provide
             62      information to Utah citizens about health and human services available in the citizen's
             63      community.
             64          (2) Only a service provider approved by the department may provide 211 telephone
             65      services in this state.
             66          (3) The department shall approve a 211 service provider after considering the
             67      following:
             68          (a) the ability of the proposed 211 service provider to meet the national 211 standards
             69      recommended by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems;
             70          (b) the financial stability of the proposed 211 service provider;
             71          (c) the community support for the proposed 211 service provider;
             72          (d) the relationship between the proposed 211 service provider and other information
             73      and referral services; and
             74          (e) other criteria as the department considers appropriate.
             75          (4) The department shall coordinate with the approved 211 service provider and:
             76          (a) other state and local agencies to ensure the joint development and maintenance of a
             77      statewide information database for use by the approved 211 service provider; and
             78          (b) other interested parties, including public, private, and non-profit transportation
             79      operators, who shall form a work group and issue a report to the Health and Human Services
             80      Interim Committee by November 15, 2013 that addresses the following issues:
             81          (i) an assessment of transportation needs for individuals with disabilities, the elderly,
             82      and other receiving services from the department;
             83          (ii) an assessment of available services and current transportation providers throughout
             84      Utah;
             85          (iii) identification of opportunities to achieve efficiency in service delivery, including
             86      the viability of a single dispatch system; and
             87          (iv) priorities for implementation of efficiency, based on resources and feasibility.


             88          Section 4. Section 62A-17-104 is enacted to read:
             89          62A-17-104. Utah 211 created -- Responsibilities.
             90          (1) The designated 211 service provider described in Section 62A-17-102 shall be
             91      known as Utah 211.
             92          (2) Utah 211 shall, as appropriations allow:
             93          (a) by 2014:
             94          (i) provide the services described in this Subsection (2) 24 hours a day, seven days a
             95      week;
             96          (ii) abide by the key standards for 211 programs, as specified in the Standards for
             97      Professional Information and Referral Requirements for Alliance of Information Systems
             98      Accreditation and Operating 211 systems; and
             99          (iii) be a point of entry for disaster-related information and referral;
             100          (b) track types of calls received and referrals made;
             101          (c) develop, coordinate, and implement a statewide information and referral system
             102      that integrates existing community-based structures with state and local agencies;
             103          (d) provide information relating to:
             104          (i) health and human services; and
             105          (ii) volunteer opportunities;
             106          (e) create an online, searchable database to provide information to the public about the
             107      health and human services provided by public or private entities throughout the state, and
             108      ensure that:
             109          (i) the material on the searchable database is indexed:
             110          (A) geographically to inform an individual about the health and human services
             111      provided in the area where the individual lives; and
             112          (B) by type of service provided; and
             113          (ii) the searchable database contains links to the Internet sites of any local provider of
             114      health and human services, if possible, and include:
             115          (A) the name, address, and phone number of organizations providing health and human
             116      services in a county; and
             117          (B) a description of the type of services provided;
             118          (f) be responsible, in collaboration with state agencies, for raising community


             119      awareness about available health and human services; and
             120          (g) host meetings on a quarterly basis until calendar year 2014, and on a biannual basis
             121      beginning in 2014, to seek input and guidance from state agencies, local governments,
             122      community-based organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations.
             123          Section 5. Section 62A-17-105 is enacted to read:
             124          62A-17-105. Other state agencies and local governments.
             125          (1) A state agency or local government institution that provides health and human
             126      services, or a public or private entity receiving state-appropriated funds to provide health and
             127      human services, shall provide Utah 211 with information, in a form determined by Utah 211,
             128      about the services the agency or entity provides for inclusion in the statewide information and
             129      referral system.
             130          (2) A state agency or local government institution that provides health and human
             131      services may not establish a new public telephone line or hotline, other than an emergency first
             132      responder hotline, to provide information or referrals unless the agency or institution first:
             133          (a) consults with Utah 211 about using the existing 211 to provide access to the
             134      information or referrals; and
             135          (b) assesses whether a new line or the existing 211 program would be more cost
             136      effective.
             137          (3) Nothing in this section prohibits a state agency or local government institution from
             138      starting a public telephone line or hotline in an emergency situation.
             139          (4) State agencies, local governments, community-based organizations, not-for-profit
             140      organizations, faith-based organizations, and businesses that engage in providing human
             141      services may contract with Utah 211 to provide specialized projects, including:
             142          (a) public health campaigns;
             143          (b) seasonal community services; and
             144          (c) expanded point of entry services.
             145          Section 6. Section 62A-17-106 is enacted to read:
             146          62A-17-106. Immunity from liability.
             147          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), Utah 211, its employees, directors, officers,
             148      and information specialists are not liable to any person in a civil action for injury or loss as a
             149      result of an act or omission of Utah 211, its employees, directors, officers, or information


             150      specialists, in connection with:
             151          (a) developing, adopting, implementing, maintaining, or operating the Utah 211
             152      system;
             153          (b) making Utah 211 available for use by the public; or
             154          (c) providing 211 services.
             155          (2) Utah 211, its employees, directors, officers, and information specialists shall be
             156      liable to any person in a civil action for an injury or loss resulting from willful or wanton
             157      misconduct.


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